Xenitia or the State of Being a Foreigner: Juxtaposing Realities, Interpreting Encounters

Pavlos Kavouras, Professor of Cultural Anthropology and Chair of the Department of Ethnomusicology and Cultural Anthropology, School of Music, University of Athens.

The idea of ξενιτιά (xenitia, the state of being a foreigner, otherness) bears, in addition to its historical importance for Greek culture, an ecumenical significance for humanity. Actually lived experiences of otherness, be they of practical, reflexive or spiritual nature, are differentiated instances of a universal response of humanity against itself in the context of its constant and dynamic encounter with nature, society and self awareness. The condition of foreign-ness may be seen as a symbolic bridge bringing together cultural aspects of humanity in the contemporary post-globalization world. To illustrate the above I will use audiovisual material about the Greek folk and popular songs of xenitia. These songs interweave in a culturally particular and historically unique way political and psychological awareness as a result of the experience of foreign-ness as otherness. This talk will be of interest to people in fields such as anthropology, classics, archaeology, sociology of religion, cultural and literary studies and ethnomusicology.

Co-sponsored by The University Seminars Program of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA)