article

Embarrassment as pride: narrative resourcefulness and strategies of normativity among Cretan animal-thieves

Anthropological linguistics30 (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.
Subjects
Verbal arts
Ethics
Property offenses
culture
Greeks
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