“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves”: Examining Representations of Roma Culture in 70 Years of American Television

Abstract

Most Americans know little about the “Gypsies,” or Roma, other than what they learn in the media. Although research shows that media have perpetuated stereotypes, there is thin anthological attention to the representation of Gypsies in American media. This study examines portrayals of Gypsies in fictional and reality television programs 1953-2014, and reveals that American television has reinforced stereotypes, suggesting that Gypsies are consistently different, a closed ethnic community resistant to change. More recent representations convey that Gypsies may be misunderstood due to their cultural history, yet this considerably less visible depiction emerges as a mere nod toward tolerance.

Are Gypsy Roma Traveller communities indigenous and would identification as such better address their public health needs?

“…This dominance of the 'sedentary society' led to Gypsy Roma Traveller communities being marginalised and excluded from mainstream society, in which they were identified as 'the other' [20] as well experiencing pressure to conform to living in a way at odds with their cultural identity [8]. Experiences of marginalisation and being forced to live realities that lacked authenticity because of wider colonising societal pressures to conform to the dominant culture is a common experience of many other indigenous groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia [21], First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Canada [22], Adivasis in Bangladesh [23] and Kuy in Cambodia [24].…”

“…37 and 38]. This discrimination occurs at all levels, including schools impacting on the educational achievement [30] of young Gypsy Roma Travellers, many of whom leave formal education at a younger age than their settled counterparts [16]; within healthcare practices [39] perpetuating health inequities; and in their day to day lives [8,20,27,37]. Clearly, it can be argued that Gypsy Roma Traveller communities could be identified as indigenous peoples under the distinctiveness and cultural difference criteria, however, what are the benefits of them being identified as such?…”

Old and New Hierarchies: Rewritten Social Norms in "Silent Valley"

“…Women in this setting wear kerchiefs and long skirts, and are subordinated to the male members of the family. While the spatial setting of the Roma community emphasizes their marginal position within Romanian society and corresponds to the stereotypical portrayal of Gypsies in Western media (Schneeweis & Foss, 2017), the series' other spaces suggest a Westernized, Eurocentric image (Shohat & Stam, 1994). In contrast to the barely lit, dark inner places of the slum and its old, dilapidated interiors, Elena's brightly lit home and well-decorated, modern house signals a contemporary Western way of life.…”

Sitcoms as a tool for cultural learning in the EFL classroom

“…As such, TV shows have attracted unparalleled attention, being the focus of ongoing academic research. Many of the studies adopt linguistic (Al-Surmi, 2012;Bednarek, 2015;Gregori-Signes, 2007;Quaglio, 2009), media (Schneeweis & Foss, 2017;Vázquez, 2016) or cultural perspectives (De Jongste, 2017; González-Alafita, Dávalos, & Gutiérrez, 2012). Even more, some works rely on a combination of disciplines: for example, Götz-Votteler and Krug (2011) adopt a linguistic and cultural standpoint.…”