Fatma Belma Oğul

The Mediatory Role of Music and Dance in Romani Communities of Roman, Dom, Lom/Poşa in Türkiye: A Post-Humanism and Agential Realism Perspective

Introduction

The mediatory role of music and dance in romani communities of roman, dom, lom/poşa in türkiye: a post-humanism and agential realism perspective. Explore music & dance's role in Türkiye's Romani (Roman, Dom, Lom/Poşa) communities through post-humanism. Discover how these practices shape identity, resilience & cultural heritage.

Abstract

This study explores the mediatory roles of music and dance within the Roman, Dom, and Lom/Poşa communities in Türkiye through a post-humanist and agential realism framework, drawing on KarenBarad’s theories. These cultural practices are examined as dynamic material-discursive phenomena that entangle human and non-human agencies (such as instruments, performance spaces, and socio-political contexts) to co-constitute identity, resilience, and cultural heritage. Based on extensive fieldwork in the Thracian region, Istanbul, and ongoing projects across western, southeastern, and northeastern Türkiye, the research highlights how these communities’ music and dance serve as vibrant intra-actions that negotiate marginalization, foster intercultural exchange, and reconfigure socio-economic networks. By emphasizing the agency of sound, movement, and material elements, this paper reimagines Romani cultural expressions as living processes that challenge stereotypes,affirm communal bonds, and contribute to the evolution of music in Türkiye within local and global contexts.

Review

This study presents an ambitious and highly pertinent exploration of the mediatory roles of music and dance within diverse Romani communities in Türkiye. By adopting a sophisticated post-humanist and agential realism framework, drawing specifically on Karen Barad’s theories, the paper promises to offer a refreshingly nuanced perspective that moves beyond traditional ethnographic approaches. The theoretical lens is particularly commendable for its potential to illuminate how these cultural practices operate as dynamic material-discursive phenomena, intricately entangling human and non-human agencies—including instruments, performance spaces, and socio-political contexts—in the co-constitution of identity, resilience, and cultural heritage. This innovative theoretical grounding suggests a significant contribution to both Romani studies and contemporary ethnomusicology. The methodological scope appears robust, with the research grounded in extensive fieldwork across geographically diverse regions of Türkiye, including the Thracian region, Istanbul, and ongoing projects spanning western, southeastern, and northeastern areas. This broad empirical base strengthens the study's claims regarding the varied and vibrant "intra-actions" of music and dance within these communities. The abstract highlights key findings that underscore the practical efficacy of these cultural expressions in negotiating marginalization, fostering intercultural exchange, and reconfiguring socio-economic networks. By emphasizing the agency of sound, movement, and material elements, the paper effectively reimagines Romani cultural expressions not as static traditions but as living, evolving processes that actively challenge stereotypes and affirm communal bonds. Overall, this paper is poised to make a substantial contribution to our understanding of Romani cultural resilience and the transformative power of performative arts. Its unique theoretical application offers a compelling framework for analyzing how music and dance serve as powerful sites of agency and negotiation within marginalized communities. Beyond its specific focus on Romani communities in Türkiye, the study's insights into material-discursive phenomena and entangled agencies hold broader implications for the fields of cultural studies, post-humanist theory, and the study of music's socio-political functions globally. It promises to deepen academic discourse on cultural heritage, identity formation, and the dynamic interplay between tradition and adaptation in complex social landscapes.

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