FOR 5406:  Antigypsyism and Ambivalence in Europe (1850-1950)

• Subject Area: Humanities
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 463005852

The research group analyzes the intertwined history of depictions from outside as well as self-articulations that contributed to the inclusion and emancipation as well as the exclusion and elimination of Sinti*zze and Rom*nja in Europe between 1850 and 1950. This goal is achieved by deconstructing antiziganistic stereotypes in art, state and science as well as by reconstructing the agency of Sinti*zze and Rom*nja. Transfers, synchronicities and asynchronies between European spaces from Spain to Germany and Romania will be examined by the group. The results will be integrated via a multimodal database (also a research environment), which will be available to the scientific public in perpetuity. SP "Pictorial Narratives and Visual Staging of Antiziganist Motifs (1848-1930)" explores the meaning of modern pictorial narratives that perpetuate traditional stereotypical motifs and subjects, while SP "Spectacle, Showmanship, Subalternity [... ] in popular knowledge media (1850-1950)" uses examples from Spain and France, especially Paris, to negotiate the question of the extent to which Sinti*zze and Rom*nja are subjects of spectacular productions in the period under investigation. Together with SP "Ambiguities of the Audiovisual: Gypsy Characters in Feature Films (1895-1950)", which explores the origins, changing meanings, and functions of Gypsy characters in silent film and early talkies (from 1927), these three SPs focus on the ambiguities of artistic media. In contrast, the other three SPs are concerned with expository and journalistic texts and acts of scholarly and police practice. SP "Between Reflection and Projection: Romani Studies in the Danubian-Carpathian Region (1880-1930)" explores the emancipatory and defamatory potentials of the so-called 'Gypsy Lore' with historiographical methods; SP "Roma Journalism in the Interwar Period (1918-1939)" is devoted - in contrast - to Rom*nja journalism, thus to political self-articulation and resistance against exclusionary tendencies, while SP "Transformations of Police Antigypsyist Discourse: From the 'Racial' Paradigm to Genocidal Practice (1850-1950)" examines the shift from a primarily sociographically accentuated to a 'racial-biological' concept of 'Gypsies', which was accompanied by a transformation of the police into an agency of persecution and extermination. With the involvement of an international network of scientists, the results are published following four conferences. Two post-doctoral theses, three dissertations and six monographs are produced. The research group attaches particular importance to the participation of Sinti*zze and Rom*nja, for which an advisory board with eight members and the promotion of scientific careers from the minority are planned.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• Ambiguities of the Audiovisual: Gypsy Characters in Feature Films (1895-1950) (Applicants Bauer, Matthias ;  Mladenova, Radmila )
• Between Reflection and Projection: Romani Studies in the Danubian-Carpathian Region (1880-1930) (Applicant Bohn, Thomas )
• Coordination Funds (Applicant Patrut, Iulia-Karin )
• Pictorial Narratives and Visual Staging of Antiziganist Motifs (1848-1930) (Applicants Bell, Peter ;  Ulz, Melanie )
• Roma Journalism in the Interwar Period (1918-1939) (Applicant Patrut, Iulia-Karin )
• Spectacle, Showmanship, Subalternity – Discursive negotiations of identity and alterity in popular knowledge media (1850-1950) (Applicant von Hagen, Kirsten )
• Transformations of police antigypsyist discourse: from the "racial" paradigm to genocidal practice (1850-1950) (Applicant Reuter, Frank )

• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr. Iulia-Karin Patrut