Romani in Art, Literature, and Music

This is a blog for Romani people and their allies to discuss portrayals of Romani people in the arts: literature, visual art, music, and in the media. The goals of this blog are: 1. to raise awareness of the existence of Romani people as an actual ethnic group 2. to raise awareness of the deeply-ingrained stereotypes of Romani people that we see every day in the media 3. to give people a safe space to discuss these issues

[romani-in-art]

Latcho dives! I know this blog has been on a huge hiatus, but I’m planning on becoming more active again! I will get around to answering questions, but there are quite a few so please be patient with me! 🌸

[rrojasandribbons]

Books About Roma

There are lots of books that have been written about Romani people. In fact, we tend to be well represented in fiction. However, that representation is often one of stereotypes, slurs, and racism. And, due to the rampant misinformation and stereotypes about us, it has been incredibly difficult for a non-Romani audience to distinguish accurate portrayals from stereotyped ones. I’m hoping this list may help that.

Romani Portrayals of Roma in Literature | Good Reads:

The Roads of the Roma: A PEN Anthology of Gypsy Writers

American Gypsy by Oksana Marafioti 

The Lost Country by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă The Birch Grove by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă Queen of the Night and Stone Flower by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă Meralda by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă 

Katitzi by Katarina Taikon

We Live in Seclusion: The Memoirs of a Romni by Ceija Stojka Travellers on this World by Ceija Stojka Träume ich, dass ich lebe by Ceija Stojka

Auf der ganzen Welt zu Hause by Karl Stojka

Papierene Kinder: Gluck, Zerstorung und Neubeginn einer Roma-Femilie in Osterreich by Mongo Stojka

Zwischen Liebe und Hass. Ein Zigeunerleben by Philomena Franz Zigeunermärchen by Philomena Franz

Gipsy: Die Geschichte einer großen Sinti Familie by Dotschy Reinhardt Everybody’s Gypsy.  Popkultur zwischen Ausgrenzung und Respekt by Dotschy Reinhardt

Devla, devla! by Irena Eliasova

Frosted Mirror by Erika Olahova

Sar o Paj by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romani Women in Canada: Spectrum of the Blue Water by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Rromane Paramicha by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Dukh by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romani Prince Penga by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić An Unusual Family by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Karankochi-Kochi by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić How God Made the Roma by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić The Fish by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Four Brothers by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romany Legends by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić ROM Like Thunder by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Roads Without Caravans by Mateo Maximoff Eve’s Garden by Glenda Bailey-Mershon Polttava tie by Veijo Baltzar

Disrupting the Nation by Ethel Brooks

The Color of Smoke by Menyhert Lakatos

Fires in the Dark by Louise Doughty Stone Cradle by Louise Doughty

The Living Fire by Ronald Lee Goddam Gypsy by Ronald Lee We Are the Romani People by Ian Hancock Danger! Educated Gypsy by Ian Hancock A History of the Romani People by Ian Hancock & Hristo Kyuchukov The Heroic Present by Ian Hancock & Jan Yoors

We are the Roma! by Valeriu Nicolae

Informative Literature by non-Roma:

All Change!: Romani Studies through Romani Eyes by Damian Le Bas

Gypsy Law by Walter Otto Weyrauch

Romani Routes by Carol Silverman

The Gypsies by Jan Yoors

And the Violins Stopped Playing by Alexander Ramati

Journeys into Memory: Romani Identity and the Holocaust in Autobiographical Writing by German and Austrian Romanies by Marianne Christine Zwicker

Mediocre Portrayals of Roma in Literature:

Bury Me Standing by Isabel Fonseca

The Nazi Persecution of the Gypsies by Guenter Lewy

I Met Lucky People by Yaron Matras The Romani Gypsies by Yaron Matras

Between Two Fires by Alaina Lemon

A History of the Gypsies by David Crowe

The Gypsies by Angus Fraser

Gypsies: Wanderers of the World by Bart McDowell

The Roma Cafe by Istvan Pogany

Gypsy Boy by Mikey Walsh

Dosha by Sonia Meyer

Yokki and the Parno Gry by Katherine Quarmby & Richard O’Neill No Place to Call Home by Katherine Quarmby Romani Pilgrims by Katherine Quarmby

Romani Culture and Gypsy Identity by Thomas Acton

Bad, Racist, & Outright Inaccurate Portrayals of Roma in Literature:

Gypsy Wisdom, Spells, Charms & Folklore by Denise Alvarado

The Gypsies by Charles Leland Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling by Charles Leland

The Gypsy Lifestyle by John McLaughlin

The Rom: Walking in the Paths of the Gypsies by Roger Moreau Your Ancient Gypsy Guide to Wild Sex by Roger Moreau

Gypsy Talk by Dennis Marlock

Zoli by Column McCann

Guy Mannering by Sir Walter Scott

Gypsy Feast by Carol Wilson

Gypsy Folk Tales by Diane Tong Gypsies by Diane Tong

The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Along the Enchanted Way by William Blacker

Thinner by Stephen King

Little Money Street by Fernanda Eberstadt

The Romany Rye by George Henry Borrow Lavengro by George Henry Borrow Romano Lavo-lil by George Henry Borrow

Mulengro by Charles de Lint

Romani Ways by G.E.C. Webb

Gypsy at Heart by Ellen Dugan

Gypsy by Trisha Leigh

The Gipsies by Francis Hindes Groome In Gipsy Tents by Francis Hindes Groome Gypsy Folk Tales by Francis Hindes Groome Gipsy Folk Tales: A Missing Link by Francis Hindes Groome The Influence of the Gypsies on the Superstitions of the English Folk by Francis Hindes Groome

Poor Janos: A Tale of Hungarian Gipsy Life by Frank Elemeny

Coffee, Tea, the Gypsy & Me by Caroline James

The Gypsies: Wanderers in Time by Katherine Esty

Sarah of the Romani: A Thriller by Tom Calen

Secrets of the Gypsies by Pierre Derlon

Les Tziganes by J. Clebert

The European by John Geipel

Acquittal by Serenity Valle

Books Written by non-Romani Fraudsters:

Gypsy Energy Secrets by Milana Perepyolkina

Gypsy Magic by Patrinella Cooper*

Dogstown by Lee Fuhler

Romany by Gypsy Putelengro A Romany Life by Gypsy Putelengro

The Roots of Health by Leon Putelengro Romany Boy by Leon Putelengro

Buckland’s Book of Gypsy Magic by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland Secrets of Gypsy Fortune Telling by Raymond Buckland Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick by Raymond Buckland The Buckland Romani Tarot by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Dream Reading by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Dream Dictionary by Raymond Buckland

Gypsy Magic: For the Prosperity’s Soul by Allie Theiss Gypsy Magic: For the Lover’s Soul by Allie Theiss

Drab Lil: A Gypsy’s Medicine Book by Clarissa Simmens Madame Sosostris Explains by Clarissa Simmens

*Patrinella Cooper actually does have direct ties to Romani culture and is said to be ethnically Roma, but completely fabricated the information in her book.

Just a Note:

I have intentionally left out quite a few books written by non-Roma about Roma during the Holocaust because I have not read many such books, and do not feel I could judge their accuracy or objectivity without actually reading them.

However, I will gladly take suggestions for any listed categories if anyone has read a book not listed above.

[thelittleblackfox]

Yokki and the Parno Gry DOES NOT belong in the mediocre list! Richard O'Neill is a vocal campaigner for Romani rights here in the UK, regularly touring schools, bookshops and community centers raising awareness of GRT experiences in the UK. Also his children’s book ‘The Lost Homework’ is the finest children’s book about Travellers living on a campsite that you’ll find

[romani-in-art]

Reblogging for updated info!

[rrojasandribbons]

Books About Roma

There are lots of books that have been written about Romani people. In fact, we tend to be well represented in fiction. However, that representation is often one of stereotypes, slurs, and racism. And, due to the rampant misinformation and stereotypes about us, it has been incredibly difficult for a non-Romani audience to distinguish accurate portrayals from stereotyped ones. I’m hoping this list may help that.

Romani Portrayals of Roma in Literature | Good Reads:

The Roads of the Roma: A PEN Anthology of Gypsy Writers

American Gypsy by Oksana Marafioti 

The Lost Country by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă The Birch Grove by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă Queen of the Night and Stone Flower by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă Meralda by Luminiţa Mihai Cioabă 

Katitzi by Katarina Taikon

We Live in Seclusion: The Memoirs of a Romni by Ceija Stojka Travellers on this World by Ceija Stojka Träume ich, dass ich lebe by Ceija Stojka

Auf der ganzen Welt zu Hause by Karl Stojka

Papierene Kinder: Gluck, Zerstorung und Neubeginn einer Roma-Femilie in Osterreich by Mongo Stojka

Zwischen Liebe und Hass. Ein Zigeunerleben by Philomena Franz Zigeunermärchen by Philomena Franz

Gipsy: Die Geschichte einer großen Sinti Familie by Dotschy Reinhardt Everybody’s Gypsy.  Popkultur zwischen Ausgrenzung und Respekt by Dotschy Reinhardt

Devla, devla! by Irena Eliasova

Frosted Mirror by Erika Olahova

Sar o Paj by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romani Women in Canada: Spectrum of the Blue Water by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Rromane Paramicha by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Dukh by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romani Prince Penga by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić An Unusual Family by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Karankochi-Kochi by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić How God Made the Roma by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić The Fish by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Four Brothers by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Romany Legends by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić ROM Like Thunder by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić Roads Without Caravans by Mateo Maximoff Eve’s Garden by Glenda Bailey-Mershon Polttava tie by Veijo Baltzar

Disrupting the Nation by Ethel Brooks

The Color of Smoke by Menyhert Lakatos

Fires in the Dark by Louise Doughty Stone Cradle by Louise Doughty

The Living Fire by Ronald Lee Goddam Gypsy by Ronald Lee We Are the Romani People by Ian Hancock Danger! Educated Gypsy by Ian Hancock A History of the Romani People by Ian Hancock & Hristo Kyuchukov The Heroic Present by Ian Hancock & Jan Yoors

We are the Roma! by Valeriu Nicolae

Informative Literature by non-Roma:

All Change!: Romani Studies through Romani Eyes by Damian Le Bas

Gypsy Law by Walter Otto Weyrauch

Romani Routes by Carol Silverman

The Gypsies by Jan Yoors

And the Violins Stopped Playing by Alexander Ramati

Journeys into Memory: Romani Identity and the Holocaust in Autobiographical Writing by German and Austrian Romanies by Marianne Christine Zwicker

Mediocre Portrayals of Roma in Literature:

Bury Me Standing by Isabel Fonseca

The Nazi Persecution of the Gypsies by Guenter Lewy

I Met Lucky People by Yaron Matras The Romani Gypsies by Yaron Matras

Between Two Fires by Alaina Lemon

A History of the Gypsies by David Crowe

The Gypsies by Angus Fraser

Gypsies: Wanderers of the World by Bart McDowell

The Roma Cafe by Istvan Pogany

Gypsy Boy by Mikey Walsh

Dosha by Sonia Meyer

Yokki and the Parno Gry by Katherine Quarmby & Richard O’Neill No Place to Call Home by Katherine Quarmby Romani Pilgrims by Katherine Quarmby

Romani Culture and Gypsy Identity by Thomas Acton

Bad, Racist, & Outright Inaccurate Portrayals of Roma in Literature:

Gypsy Wisdom, Spells, Charms & Folklore by Denise Alvarado

The Gypsies by Charles Leland Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling by Charles Leland

The Gypsy Lifestyle by John McLaughlin

The Rom: Walking in the Paths of the Gypsies by Roger Moreau Your Ancient Gypsy Guide to Wild Sex by Roger Moreau

Gypsy Talk by Dennis Marlock

Zoli by Column McCann

Guy Mannering by Sir Walter Scott

Gypsy Feast by Carol Wilson

Gypsy Folk Tales by Diane Tong Gypsies by Diane Tong

The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Along the Enchanted Way by William Blacker

Thinner by Stephen King

Little Money Street by Fernanda Eberstadt

The Romany Rye by George Henry Borrow Lavengro by George Henry Borrow Romano Lavo-lil by George Henry Borrow

Mulengro by Charles de Lint

Romani Ways by G.E.C. Webb

Gypsy at Heart by Ellen Dugan

Gypsy by Trisha Leigh

The Gipsies by Francis Hindes Groome In Gipsy Tents by Francis Hindes Groome Gypsy Folk Tales by Francis Hindes Groome Gipsy Folk Tales: A Missing Link by Francis Hindes Groome The Influence of the Gypsies on the Superstitions of the English Folk by Francis Hindes Groome

Poor Janos: A Tale of Hungarian Gipsy Life by Frank Elemeny

Coffee, Tea, the Gypsy & Me by Caroline James

The Gypsies: Wanderers in Time by Katherine Esty

Sarah of the Romani: A Thriller by Tom Calen

Secrets of the Gypsies by Pierre Derlon

Les Tziganes by J. Clebert

The European by John Geipel

Acquittal by Serenity Valle

Books Written by non-Romani Fraudsters:

Gypsy Energy Secrets by Milana Perepyolkina

Gypsy Magic by Patrinella Cooper*

Dogstown by Lee Fuhler

Romany by Gypsy Putelengro A Romany Life by Gypsy Putelengro

The Roots of Health by Leon Putelengro Romany Boy by Leon Putelengro

Buckland’s Book of Gypsy Magic by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland Secrets of Gypsy Fortune Telling by Raymond Buckland Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick by Raymond Buckland The Buckland Romani Tarot by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Dream Reading by Raymond Buckland Gypsy Dream Dictionary by Raymond Buckland

Gypsy Magic: For the Prosperity’s Soul by Allie Theiss Gypsy Magic: For the Lover’s Soul by Allie Theiss

Drab Lil: A Gypsy’s Medicine Book by Clarissa Simmens Madame Sosostris Explains by Clarissa Simmens

*Patrinella Cooper actually does have direct ties to Romani culture and is said to be ethnically Roma, but completely fabricated the information in her book.

Just a Note:

I have intentionally left out quite a few books written by non-Roma about Roma during the Holocaust because I have not read many such books, and do not feel I could judge their accuracy or objectivity without actually reading them.

However, I will gladly take suggestions for any listed categories if anyone has read a book not listed above.

[romani-in-art]

Sorry for the unintentional hiatus! We are back!

[everythinghungary]

Bódvalenke, the Romani “mural village”

[romani-culture]

Celebrating Romani art and culture at the first Roma Biennale | Apollo Magazine

The first Roma Biennale reflected on the history of a persecuted people – and offered a riot of contemporary Romani art and performance

[romani-in-art]

Can anyone tell me if there is any truth that certain tribes/ clans came out of India? Is the Hindi religion in any of the Rom belief systems.

Of course that’s the truth! There’s linguistic, DNA, and cultural evidence of this. And while Romani communities worldwide have retained some links to Hinduism, none of us traditionally practice what would be regarded by anyone as modern-day Hinduism. There are of course people who lie and say “real” Roma have always been Hindu, but this is a lie; no Romani community practices Hinduism anymore. There are a few Roma who practice it but only because they converted (which is up for debate if that’s even allowed). Hope this helps!

[selfportraitsofcolor]

Sead Kazanxhiu, b. 1987 A choice to be made, a price to be paid Albania (2016) Performance [Source], video here

The artist says:

The romani people have never identified themselves with a territory. Although they come from India, they have never fought for it, but fought for life with life. As Diana Muir emphasizes “the romani people, as unique among peoples, have no tradition of an ancient and distant homeland from which their ancestors migrated, nor do they claim the right to national sovereignty in any of the lands where they reside. Rather, Romani identity is bound up with the ideal of freedom expressed, in part, in having no ties to a homeland”. 

Because of the absence of traditional land concept, the “Romani phuv” - romani land is a “controversial issue that implies different prices to be paid when decision have to be made” (Nicolae Gheorghe).  “Romani phuv” is still a dream for many Roma despite the events of life and history. This “land” is alive and continues to live in the hearts of the Roma. 

Bringing this performance in today’s situation where the roma are “located” and “dislocated” for political, economic, or social reasons, this video performance is made as a need to open a discussion, and provoke people’s perception about them and their relation with the land and territory. 

In this performance I take the role of a chef who prepares a meal with SHISHIK ( a kind of soil, that roma use to wash themselves, and the pregnant woman use to eat during her pregnancy) and the bureaucrat who represent the intellectual romani persons who through their work, effort, negotiations and discussions can make choices in order to make this dream to live longer and end the game of location and dislocation. 

There’s an interview with the artist here.

[halfsyproblems]

The solution to racist art is not to lash nonwhite people to white material and call it a day. We don’t need people to cast more Rromani Esmeraldas. We need them to stop making Esmeraldas at all.

[halfsyproblems]

Hey, I agree with your post, but can you please tell me what is wrong with Esmeralda specifically? Is she a racist character? Thanks!

No problem! Yes, Esmeralda is a racist character, both in the Disney film and especially in the book. In the novel, Esmeralda’s goodness explicitly stems from the fact that she is not Rromani at all - she’s a kidnapped white child. Because you know, that’s totally a thing Rromani people do, and pushing that narrative definitely hasn’t ripped families apart and ruined the lives of Rromani parents whose kids came out just a liiiiiittle too blonde in the eyes of gadje authorities. I’m kind of a HoND apologist (in that I think if a Rrom ripped a couple characters and story bones out of Hugo’s hands, they could make something decent out of it) and I still give Esme a big ol’ representational F.

The Disney version is less awful, and there’s a lot of Rromani kids who grew up admiring her, but as you get older and wiser you can see a lot of cracks. She’s still extremely sexualized and portrayed as, if not an outright criminal, definitely has some…flexible ideas about property. There’s also just something deeply uncomfortable about the fact that the one sympathetic Rroma in the entire story is the one all the white dudes want to sleep with. Look how all the other Rromani in the movie are drawn, with exaggerated racial features and cruel, dumbed-down expressions and mannerisms (see the Court of Miracles song for the worst examples of this). It comes off like “if you are not available for white consumption (especially sexually), then you are not an equal human being.” It’s pretty fucked up.

[rrojasandribbons]

She was pretty much the only representation American Romani kids had in the 1990s.. if your parents were lucky enough to get their hands on any European Romani language films that came out in the late 1990s, you were probably still too young to watch them. 

In the book, the Roma not only kidnap Esmeralda (Agnes), but leave Quasimodo in her place, so it is a really cruel statement made about Romani people in that it suggests we see no value in the life of a child that is disabled, and are willing to not only throw away children, but also kidnap “normal” children to replace them. The whole plot in the book is just really horrific and racist. 

Also, like @maskseller brought up on another thread about this.. Esmeralda is only a teenager when Frollo and Quasimodo take romantic/sexual interest in her. 

I don’t think the movie explicitly gives Esmeralda an age, but the director had to have known that in the book, she is just a teenager. So, instead of using that as a way to tackle the hypersexualization of Romani women, they simply created animation that painted her as hypersexualized grown woman. 

Most renditions of this story depict Esmeralda in a very overly sexualized manner.  She is depicted as a temptress throughout both the book and the movie, which is even more disturbing when you realize that she is supposed to be a child.

And, like @halfsyproblems mentioned, these are stereotypes that still have a huge impact on Romani communities today, especially in Europe. 

[pdfgdfgdfbdgge]

Apparently Dacre Montgomery is NightWing… (he posted a picture and then quickly deleted it). NightWing is fucking Romani decent. This would yet again be a major studio white washing a POC’s role.

Does Dacre Montgomery know? Will he be a decent person and pull out of the role or shit on that culture and just happily white wash?

[rrojasandribbons]

But.. isn’t Dick Grayson only supposed to be ¼ Romani? That would make him mostly what.. White?? 

So.. all of these people complaining that Dick Grayson is being “Whitewashed” are actually arguing to put brown face on a character whose entire ¼ Romani heritage is based on racist stereotypes. 

I honestly have no idea why this is such a “controversial” thing.. like 99% of people who are ¼ Romani and ¾ White look White. He would probably not look even remotely like a PoC. 

I know Dick Grayson is just a character, but in the real world, he would would not be treated as ethnically or culturally Romani. He would be White. 

Quit trying to brown face an already racist character.. 

[rrojasandribbons]

Based on that last ask... What Romani stories would make for a good, Disney styled animated "fairy tale" movie adaption?

There are sooooo many.. 

Romani people have really strong history of folk tales and story telling is an integral part of our culture. 

Some of my favorites are the Princess Shofolica story that I talked about in another ask, yesterday…

The Bone Prince, which is about a prince who disobeys his father, the old king, and ends up losing the woman who would become his queen when he takes the throne. He ends up sailing across the world to look for her and his trust and loyalty are tested throughout the story. 

There are several versions of the creation of the violin. Most of them usually involve a beautiful young girl, a love interest, and either her family or other men being tricked by the devil causing them to die. In most versions, the strings of the violin are made from the hairs of the deceased. 

There is a story about a king and a painter in which the king believes he is the best painter in his kingdom, but he meets a painter whose art is far more beautiful than his own. He ends up locking the painter in a dungeon. 

And, another story that would be a good one is about a couple who have had many children, but all their children have grown up. They have another daughter, and keep her locked away in the house because she is so beautiful. The couple is really really poor, and in the end.. it turns out their daughter is made of gold. 

I’m not even scratching the surface here.. there are literally hundreds of Romani folk tales, and that is not even including the numerous epic ballads we have. 

[chirikli]

“ZORAN TAIROVIĆ was born in 1966 in Novi Sad (Serbia), where he also graduated in painting. He started working at the age of eighth when he was chosen to lead a children’s show “Good morning girls, good morning boys”, which was broadcast for nine years on Radio Novi Sad. Today he is engaged in painting, composing and directing.

..Zoran Tairovic’s means for expression are not limited to canvas. He is also an author and director of several experimental, artistic and documentary films, composer of an opera, a musical, film score and other musical pieces and has said of himself that he is not a writer, nor a composer, nor a painter or a filmmaker – though he has done all of those things – but simply, an Artist. He has a master degree in management of applied arts.

Having won numerous domestic and international awards for his work in the field of painting and film art, Tairovic’s works are widely exhibited internationally and many are kept in private collections. So far (info 2010) he has had over 30 solo exhibitions , and has also exhibited at over 50 collective exhibitions in the country and abroad. He is a multi-award winner.”

[nowhiteszone]

Чёрная берёза (1978), Соня Тимофеева

Romani actress and singer Sonya Timofeewa’s appearance in the Russian movie “Black Tree”

[nowhiteszone]

Romani in Art, “Renaissance Madonna” by István Szentandrássy

[gael-garcia]

Latcho Drom (1993), dir. Tony Gatlif

A documentary following the music, journey, and culture of the Romani people from their genesis in India to many of the countries through which they passed. With minimal dialogue and subtitles/translations, the film lets the music and powerful performances speak for themselves.

[rrojasandribbons]

I definitely recommend this movie! I’ve probably seen it a bazillion times and it doesn’t get any less amazing. 

[romani-culture]

“I’m actually proud my pictures have contributed to showing a new image of the Roma. They are indeed mostly seen as poor, beggars, dirty. I photographed an elite among the Roma, the ones that succeeded in forging a place, the house of their dreams.” - Carlo Gianferro