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商品の説明
内容説明
"If the Balkans hadn't existed, they would have been invented" was the verdict of Count Hermann Keyserling in his famous 1928 publication, Europe. Over ten years ago, Maria Todorova traced the relationship between the reality and the invention. Based on a rich selection of travelogues, diplomatic accounts, academic surveys, journalism, and belles-lettres in many languages, Imagining the Balkans explored the ontology of the Balkans from the sixteenth century to the present day, uncovering the ways in which an insidious intellectual tradition was constructed, became mythologized, and is still being transmitted as discourse. Maria Todorova, who was raised in the Balkans, is in a unique position to bring both scholarship and sympathy to her subject, and in a new afterword she reflects on recent developments in the study of the Balkans and political developments on the ground since the publication of Imagining the Balkans. The afterword explores the controversy over Todorova's coining of the term Balkanism. With this work, Todorova offers a timely, updated, accessible study of how an innocent geographic appellation was transformed into one of the most powerful and widespread pejorative designations in modern history.
Book Description
"If the Balkans hadn't existed, they would have been invented" was the verdict of Count Hermann Keyserling in his famous 1928 publication, Europe. This book traces the relationship between the reality and the invention. Based on a rich selection of travelogues, diplomatic accounts, academic surveys, journalism, and belles-lettres in many languages, Imagining the Balkans explores the ontology of the Balkans from the eighteenth century to the present day, uncovering the ways in which an insidious intellectual tradition was constructed, became mythologized, and is still being transmitted as discourse.
The author, who was raised in the Balkans, is in a unique position to bring both scholarship and sympathy to her subject. A region geographically inextricable from Europe, yet culturally constructed as "the other," the Balkans have often served as a repository of negative characteristics upon which a positive and self-congratulatory image of the "European" has been built. With this work, Todorova offers a timely, accessible study of how an innocent geographic appellation was transformed into one of the most powerful and widespread pejorative designations in modern history.
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カスタマーレビュー
Amazon.com で最も参考になったカスタマーレビュー (beta)
Amazon.com:
9件のカスタマーレビュー
23 人中、20人の方が、｢このレビューが参考になった｣と投票しています。
Unlearning the Balkans
2001/1/13
形式:ペーパーバック
As a longtime student of Dr Todorova's (I was under her tutelage for about four years and still correspond with her today), I found this book to be an excellent synopsis of her personal and professional opinions and anecdotes concerning the Balkans. It was like taking my class notes and one-on-one discussions, sifting out the dates, places and events and putting a binding on them. All of her cultural theory regarding this singular region of the world is evident in the pages of Imagining the Balkans. I would suggest a thorough knowledge of Edward Said's Orientalism and at least a cursory reading of Foucault's works before jumping into this work. Maria shows little mercy for the uninitiated and this tendency become all too evident in her most recent work. For students of Balkan history, ethnocentrism, culture clashes and human nature, this work is both compelling and fascinating. This book should not be your introduction to the politics of the Balkans because it teaches us more about how those of us in the West (especially historians, political scientists and travelers) view ourselves using the mirror of the "Other."
13 人中、12人の方が、｢このレビューが参考になった｣と投票しています。
Much-needed examination of Balkanism
2001/5/11
形式:ペーパーバック
"Imagining the Balkans" is an examination and critical analysis of perceptions of the Balkans, both by outsiders and Balkan residents. In this, Todorova emphasizes the concept of Balkanism, similar to Edward Said's Orientalism, but with some crucial differences - the main ones being that the Balkans are a more concrete concept than the rather vague "Orient," and the lack of a clear `us vs. them' dichotomy between the Balkans and the `West' (Balkan peoples are white, and largely Christian). The first chapter provides an extremely useful and informative exploration of the origins of the very word Balkan and the geographic area it was/is meant to designate over the years. The following chapters provide a historical survey and critical analysis of how the Balkans were defined and perceived, mainly by outsiders, but also by the peoples of the Balkans. There is also a much-needed critique of the concept of Central Europe which first emerged during the early 1980s. Perhaps the only shortcoming involves Todorova's frequent emphasis on her native Bulgaria and her apparent lack of expertise in relation to Yugoslavia; thus, discussion of the entire Balkans vs. Europe debate in places like Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Slovenia is completely ignored. Even more surprising is the complete lack of critical treatment of Rebecca West's "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon," perhaps one of the central texts of 20th century `Balkanism.' Nevertheless, "Imagining the Balkans" is a valuable, thought-provoking and fascinating book - one of the most important, although implicit points Todorova seems to make is that it is generally pointless, illogical and often ludicrous to imbue geographic/regional locations with a number of value-ridden stereotypes and cultural, `civilizational' designations, even as people constantly need to create such categories.
10 人中、9人の方が、｢このレビューが参考になった｣と投票しています。
Dense and, at times, tedious
2008/1/31
形式:ペーパーバック
It is clear from the outset that the author, an academic, wrote this book for consumption by other academics. It certainly provides a comprehensive, well-researched look at the history of perceptions, misconceptions, and stereotypes that have been applied to the region now commonly referred to as the Balkans. There is no doubt that it is important to understand how and why different aspects of Balkan identities evolved over time, and Todorova should be commended for contributing to the base of knowledge on the subject.
Unfortunately, the amount of source material that she uses becomes so much fluff and padding as the reader wades through the chapters. She probably could have said what she needed to say in about half the space; the rest just comes off as academic posturing. I would even go so far as to characterize some of it as haughty intellectualism.
Had this book not been on the required-reading list for a graduate school course, I would not have purchased it knowing what I know now. Bottom line: it is not a very accessible book. Regrettably, I cannot suggest an alternative volume for someone interested in learning more about this topic.
To cut to the chase of the argument, I suggest focusing on chapter 7 and the conclusion.
Reader, beware: it will take a lot of patience (or generous doses of skimming) to get through this one.
Unfortunately, the amount of source material that she uses becomes so much fluff and padding as the reader wades through the chapters. She probably could have said what she needed to say in about half the space; the rest just comes off as academic posturing. I would even go so far as to characterize some of it as haughty intellectualism.
Had this book not been on the required-reading list for a graduate school course, I would not have purchased it knowing what I know now. Bottom line: it is not a very accessible book. Regrettably, I cannot suggest an alternative volume for someone interested in learning more about this topic.
To cut to the chase of the argument, I suggest focusing on chapter 7 and the conclusion.
Reader, beware: it will take a lot of patience (or generous doses of skimming) to get through this one.
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