Behind the Songlines
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2578377 |
|---|---|
| Authors | H Morphy (0000-0001-6488-662X, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1988 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 19 |
| Publication date | 1988-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Anthropology Today (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0268-540X • E-ISSN: 1467-8322 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/3032752 |
| OpenAlex | W2318035666 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
In this factious context the ambiguity of any image is exploited by both parties. Nationalists put forward the independence of mountain-dwelling Basques from invading Romans as the reason for the successful maintenance of much of their distinctive mythology. To them, Basque Christianity is both distinctively fervent and neo-pagan in many aspects. But to the distinguished Spanish historian Sanchez Albomoz this same lack of romanization explains Basque 'backwardness' and their 'irrationality': it is only the descendants of cave-dwelling pagans who could be prepared to shoot or blow up so many Spanish policemen. This indigenous use of local stereotypes clearly serves political interests. But their appropriation by foreign journalists wanting to colour their grey articles only furthers readers' miscomprehension of what is happening in this northern triangle of the Iberian peninsula. All the more pity then: an attempt to understand Basque nationalism could conceivably make people cast a fresh eye on other problems even closer 'to home'
Political science · Sociology · Basque language and culture studies · History
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,29 |
| Citation span | 2019 - 2021 (3) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |