- Apr 15, 2011
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Oh man, horror movies are the main offenders for hat kind of gypsy! It is interesting how those roots of stereotypes get so obscured by time that soon you end up with stereotypes of stereotypes and people who would never be able to tie them with their original source. Hollywood Vodun/Voodoo reminds me of this, in particular when looking at zombies. The old zombi movies very much knew the root of the stereotypes they were using and had really direct, negative connotations about specific groups of people, but now zombies have grown to reflect our modern fears (radioactive bomb zombies to animal testing rage zombies to plague zombies) so much that the fear of the non-Christian root source is often completely absent in the modern zombie. Like you said, it is interesting when people take on labels and identities that are also far-removed stereotypes, positive or negative, like folks who take on Native American labels because they joined a drum circle and love nature, and that is what it is all about as far as their mental image of "Native American" goes.
The information you have shared about the Roma people really helps show why the term "gypsy" can evoke such strong feelings, and how terms relate to devastating discrimination and malignment of groups of people. Your point about insular cultures and groups especially demonstrates some of the struggles faced in overcoming barriers and divides. Excellent information and points that encourage rumination and discussion about both the Roma and about stereotypes and prejudice in general.
The information you have shared about the Roma people really helps show why the term "gypsy" can evoke such strong feelings, and how terms relate to devastating discrimination and malignment of groups of people. Your point about insular cultures and groups especially demonstrates some of the struggles faced in overcoming barriers and divides. Excellent information and points that encourage rumination and discussion about both the Roma and about stereotypes and prejudice in general.