Words as Events: Cretan Mandinádes in Performance and CompositionWords as Events introduces the tradition of short, communicative rhyming couplets, the mantinádes, as still sung and recited in a variety of performance situations on the island of Crete. Recently, these poems have also entered modern mass media and they are widely being exchanged as text messages by Cretans. Focusing on the multi-functionality of the short form, Sykäri demonstrates how the traditional register gives voice to individual experiences in spontaneous utterances. The local focus on communicative economy and artistry is further examined in a close analysis of the processes and ideals of composition. By analyzing how the "restrictions" of form and performative conventions in fact generate impulses of creativity, the author creates a theoretical approach that is sensitive to the special characteristics of the short, rhymed poetic traditions. In this interdisciplinary study, the reader is invited to become familiar with the current folklore theory of oral poetry, which has a long tradition in Finland. The author combines the results of earlier folkloristic and anthropological insights, and extends the theoretical concerns further to address questions of spontaneity and individual agency. The research data has been produced in communicative interactions during long-term fieldwork. As a result, the short, rhymed poetry, often neglected by scholars in earlier research paradigms, can now be seen in new light - specifically as dialogic poetry - through its extended, multi-layered dialogic qualities. |
Contents
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 7 |
a poetic tradition across the time | 19 |
II | 54 |
CRETE AND TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCE CONTEXTS | 81 |
117 | 117 |
132 | 132 |
problems implied by the doubleidentity in modern arenas | 138 |
building an Motivations for composing image Verbal interaction Composition for emotional selfexpression Capturing a theme The creativity of maki... | 162 |
A THEORY OF DIALOGIC ORAL POETRY Dialogic oral poetry Individuals and tradition Four aspects of creativity The selfdependent poem and th... | 195 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PRIMARY SOURCES | 210 |
| 220 | |
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Common terms and phrases
activities addition areas arenas become beginning century Chapter collections communication composers composition concept concerns connection contemporary contextual continuation conversations couplets create creativity Cretan Crete cultural dance described dialogic discussed elements engagement especially essentially example exchange experience expression extemporized feast fieldwork focus frame friends genres gléndi Greek historical idea improvisation individual interpretation introduced island language later learned linguistic lira living mantinádes meaning metrical musicians narrative nature oral poetry original paréa participants particularly past performance play poems poetic possible practice present productive recited referred regard rhyme role separation shared short significant singer singing singing events situation skills social society songs speech story structures sung syllables tell textual theme tradition turned understand verbal verses village women write written