Ethnologie der Zigeuner. Von der Begegnung zur Theoriebildung

To all Gypsy groups the factum is common, that they are firmly enclosed by a society, from whichthey want to keep distance. Analyzing the relations between this communities and the larger societymeets tendencies of amalgamating as well as tendencies of separating. Among the latter the originalityand creativity in putting together the ‘own culture’ are striking, so that a permanent significatof distance (Gypsy identity) is opposed to flexible significants of distancing (cultural traits), whichare often transformed elements of the majority culture.