(B)randprogramma: Modern Myths

There are countless stories that make the rounds about queer bodies and identities, designating experiences as ‘unnatural’ and individuals as ‘abnormal’. At the same time, different kinds of identities have always been part of storytelling and mythologies. In some traditions, there seems to be more space given to fluidity in the stories of the past than in the societies which still retell them to this day. It is no surprise that to many reading these stories, where different creatures and people transcend boundaries and undo (now deemed) traditional binaries, has become a site of recognition and refuge. In this programme we look at what happens when we reclaim this mythology as a space where we can belong.

From Plato to democracy, Ancient Greece is often pointed to as the origin of Western civilisation. Today, historians increasingly point to cultural contributions from ancient North Africa and the Near East, debunking the idea of a thriving culture that could emerge without outside influence. Even when looking at Greece's position today, it is often disconnected from its surroundings. For although it is often not the first country one thinks of when thinking of 'Balkans,' Greece is (geographically) very much part of the peninsula. Even looking at Greek myths, the very first versions of many stories are based on the animism of the entire region. What stories are told about the origins of a Greek identity and what is kept quiet in them? How does Greece relate to the region? In this programme, we explore the story of Greek identity, the role of antiquity and how the idea of a national history plays through today.

Romantic wanderers, thieves, antisocials. Countless stories still circulate about Roma that lead to exclusion and misunderstanding. Almost nowhere is the power of shared stories more evident than when ideas are so deeply embedded that it is difficult to make it clear that they are a narrative, when discrimination is not looked up to. Narratives can lead to perception, perception to prejudice and prejudice to normalising discrimination and even violence.

Roma themselves have a rich culture when it comes to folk tales and myths about the origins of their traditions. But sharing knowledge also leads to trepidation. When your culture is so threatened, protecting it can look like closed-mindedness. How do the stories circulating about Roma affect their experiences in society? And what if the history of your culture is full of riddles (for people from outside)? Around the performance Romáland, we open a conversation about the myths surrounding the Roma community. We look at what stories circulate about Roma and how they shape their position in society.

One of the characteristics of modern myths is that they are often constructed according to dominant ideas/power structures and ideologies. With this, they are nevertheless often stories 'about,' where those they are about are not the narrators. Rebetiko, as a style of music, is thus perhaps also an example of an anti-myth. The music originated in the 1930s as a kind of Greek blues and was played by people who were outside society. From brothels, hash cafes and prisons, rebels and outcasts sang about exile, loss and wandering the streets. This allowed stories to be shared of the daily reality of minorities and oppressed communities, against the dominant current.

In this longer programme, we celebrate anti-myth. We dive into the role of music as a way of preserving history and telling stories, and come together to explore the role of community with different guests. Everyone is welcome to walk in and out for different parts.