Approaches to a "new" World Literature Romani Literature(s) as (re-)writing and self-empowerment

• Main Author: Marafioti, Oksana (auth)
• Other Authors: Martín Sevillano, Ana Belén (auth), Shaw, Martin (auth), von Hagen, Kirsten (auth), Kledzik, Emilia (auth), Homann, Florian (auth), Toninato, Paola (auth), Bauer, Sidonia (auth), Parente-Capková, Viola (auth), French, Lorely (Editor), Hertrampf, Marina Ortrud (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Akademische Verlagsgemeinschaft München (AVM) 2023
• Series: Ästhetik(en) der Roma - Selbst- und Fremdrepräsentationen
• Subjects: Malta; Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers; Roma literatures; Engaged World Literature; Uriah Burton; Núria León de Santiago; Malgorzata Mirga-Tas; Ceija Stojka; Sally Cortés Santiago; Kiba Lumberg; Flamenco Lyrics by Romnja Performers; Romani Femininity; Writings of Romani Holocaust
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

The history of written Romani literature is only about 100 years old, and thus Romani literatures are still being defined and consolidated. At least two special features characterize this young literature: on the one hand, it is a multilingual diasporic world literature that often can be characterized as engaged literature and tries to deconstruct various age-old stereotypes of the minority. On the other hand, female authors play a strikingly prominent role. Female authors frequently achieve visibility with their texts on the national book markets. Some authors appear in their own texts as committed feminists and/or human rights activists. For other authors, sexuality and gender play a less prominent role in their works. Additionally, women often also play very central roles in texts by male authors. Therefore, this volume aims to explore the different facets of Romani literatures on two interrelated axes. First, the essays explore the status of several diverse works as transnational world literature. Second, the contributions examine the significance of writing as a form of social engagement and self-empowerment. What emerges is the observation that mainly women authors have been speaking out and standing up for their rights as women and Romnya.