Ethnologica Dalmatica, Vol. 30 No. 1, 2023.
Original scientific paper
Nomadic Roma People In Split And Surroundings Between The Two World Wars
Ivo Mišur
orcid.org/0000-0002-6044-8208
; Ladišina 15, 10000 Zagreb
Abstract
This article dealt with Roma groups that traveled through Dalmatia between the two world wars and more closely their presentation in daily press. Stereotypes about this ethnic community were already formed those days and most of them were depicted in two encyclopedias that were published. Most common were that Roma people are thieves, cheaters and beggars. Newspapers encouraged and strengthened those stereotypes by publishing unverified rumors. Most news about Roma gangs in Dalmatia mention police intervention or some criminal activity. Given the number of reports, there are very few proven charges. Roma were most often arrested for vagrancy. The most notorious stereotype about Roma is the myth of child abduction, proved to be untrue during the interwar period. Unverified rumors have sparked a general panic in the city several times that has resulted in false reports of kidnappings. Violent crimes among and by Roma were rare. At the same period novels with Roma as the main characters were published in the newspapers. Films on the same subject were also shown in cinemas. In both cases, Roma were portrayed as passionate people. The newspapers partially supported eroticization of this ethnic community, often describing the Roma as a beautiful people.
Keywords
Roma people; Dalmatia; stereotypes; daily press; discrimination
Hrčak ID:
303137
URI
Publication date:
31.5.2023.
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