Seminar: Romani Literature – an inconspicuous phenomenon of the time
Because of the lack of a tradition of education and literature, as well as persistent majority prejudices, the phrase „Romani literature“ may sound like an oxymoron to many. The beginnings of Romani literature in our territory have their roots in the late 1960s and are related to the fading Prague Spring. During the period of normalization, its protagonists were pushed to the periphery, or rather beyond the periphery, of socialist culture, but in 1973, Milena Hübschmannová’s textbook Základy romštiny was published, containing examples of Romani proverbs, song lyrics, and entire fairy tales. Since 1989 at the latest, the voice of Romani authors has been gaining strength – thanks to the emancipating Romani intellectuals and the publishing house Kher, which has made the promotion of Romani literature its goal. With its cultural richness, its choice of unusual themes, its lack of calculation and its unconventional humour, Romani literature is claiming its place in the Czech literary canon. What will happen when it stops fulfilling political or emancipatory goals and is no longer written in Romani – will it even be Romani literature at all?
Main speaker: Karolína Ryvolová (Kher Publishing House)
Comments: Renata Berkyová (Institute of Contemporary History, CAS) a Petr Šámal (Institute of Czech Literature, CAS)
The seminar will be held in the Czech language. Please note that an audio recording will be made of the seminar, which will be available on the website of the institute and on Spotify.