Roma (“Gypsy”) communities today Historical background, society & culture and current issues

1. ANTH 4020/5020 Roma (“Gypsy”) communities todayHistorical background, society & culture and current issues - Week 1 Class 1: Introduction: „Course basics“ -

2. Today‘s outline • You and Me • Course basics (teaching & grading) • Problem Posting • Roma („Gypsies“): Who do we think they are? • Coursestructure and content • Learning goals • Short survey

3. Who are you ...? • Class composition? • Names? • Motivation for taking this course? ? ? ?

4. Who am I ...? • - Moved to Boulder couple of years ago • From Switzerland, of Slovak origin • Studies at the University of Zurich, Switzerland • MA: Cultural Anthropology (major), Pedagogy & International law (minors) • PhD: Human Geography

5. My research MA Thesis: Marginalisation of Roma minority in Slovakia, Central Europe.

6. My research Mandat from the Swiss Red Cross: Evaluation of development project for Roma settlement in Bulgaria, Eastern Europe

7. My research PhD-Thesis: Perception of Alpine landscape change

8. My research • Qualitative market research http://www.g-i-m.com/ • beauty products and fashion

9. This Course • Classes: Tuesdays & Thursdays 8-9.15am • Office hours: Thursdays 9.30-11am • Combination of lectures, discussions and active learning assignments • Readings online in electronic format • Each student does 1 presentation of a reading assignment • Teaching philosophy: learning only takes place through personal experience (not through listening)  Active participation in discussions and exercises mandatory!

10. Grading criteria

11. Problem Posting • What problems would you like to tackle during the course? • What sorts of concerns do you think we might deal with? • What are your expectations for this course?

12. Questions?

13. Brain Storming Who are the Roma („Gypsies“)? • What kinds of images (maybe memories), feelings or thoughts do you associate with them? • How would you define „the Gypsies“? Please write down the answers to these questions – you have 3 minutes!

14. Images, feelings … Dancers Fortune tellers Thieves Beggars Beautiful women Fashion

15. Definition … Originate in Central Asia (Pakistan, Mongolia asf.) Gypsy a misconception …: coming from Egypt Nomadic population Language: “Romi”

16. Who are the Roma ? A (rough) definition: The Roma are a transnational European minorityof Indian originwiththeirowncultureandlanguage. History: OriginatefromIndia, leftbeforethe 8th cent., arrived in Europe in the 13th and 14th cent. (Hungary, Slovakia, Romania) Travellers? Clichés of Rroma as nomads in caravans … In fact: most Roma areandalwaysweresedentary Numbers: 8-12 Million Roma in Europe

17. Course Structure & Contents 1. General Background Film about a „Gypsy Ghetto“ in Slovakia; Origins, Migration and current Population; History: focus on Roma during Nazis & Communist times; Romani Language and Culture 2. Roma Identity Romani Ethnicity: viewed from inside and outside Romani politics 3. Case studies Roma in Slovakia (Svinia) Gypsies in Northern America – Who are they? Hungarian Roma Gitanos in Spain 4. An insolvable (social) predicament? Ethnic tension, racism, migration, human rights: and the future?

18. Learning Goals After completingthiscourse, you will beable: • To understand the specific characteristics of the history, society and culture of the Roma • To distinguish them from other minority groups with whom they share some similarities • To challenge existing stereotypes of “the gypsies” • To understand the current socio-political situation of the Roma-Minority in selected countries • To develop some ideas for measures to be taken in order to improve the situation of the Roma

19. Questions? • Do you have any questions regarding the syllabus? • Any suggestions?

20. Short survey Please fill out the short survey! This helps me to adopt the contents to your interests and abilities.