article
Embarrassment as pride: narrative resourcefulness and strategies of normativity among Cretan animal-thieves
Anthropological linguistics • 30 (3-4) • Published In 1988 • Pages: 319-344
By: Herzfeld, Michael.
Abstract
This is a careful analysis of two animal raiding narratives by Cretan highland pastoralists, focusing on the excuses made by the narrators for their actions. In the first story the narrator excuses himself for participating in a raid at too-old an age, by emphasizing the fact that he was responding to, and therefore respecting, an unusual request by his son to accompany him. In the second story the narrator makes an excuse for collaborating with the authorities in nabbing a thief, by revealing how the theft violated the normal protocols of stealing. The stories are expressions of self-regard (EGOISMOS) and are meant to show off the narrators' acute understanding of social structure and strategies.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Europe
- Sub Region
- Southeastern Europe
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 2002
- Field Date
- 1974-1984
- Coverage Date
- 1974-1984
- Coverage Place
- 'Glendi,' Crete, Greece
- Notes
- Michael Herzfeld
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 342-343)
- LCCN
- 71004564
- LCSH
- Greece