article
Literacy as symbolic strategy in Greece: methodological consideration of topic and space
Byzantine and modern Greek studies • 14 • Published In 1990 • Pages: 151-172
By: Herzfeld, Michael.
Abstract
This article is largely a theoretical argument against the analytical separation of oral traditions and literary texts. The latter are often an appropriation of the former, for example in folklore studies, where the search for an original urtext serves centralized state power. According to Herzfeld, performances associated with oral traditions are meaningful acts in their own right, which incorporate both linguistic and non-linguistic modes of action. Perfomances are both context and text bound and speak to power, but their meaning can be fleeting, unobtainable outside the specific group or situation. He analyzes several distiches as illustrations.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- Europe
- Sub Region
- Southeastern Europe
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 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 bibliographica references (p. 170-172)
- LCCN
- 78641277
- LCSH
- Greece