In Turkey, Gypsies have had a preponderant importance all along, especially in the arts. This situation has been same since Ottoman era. However, it is a quite new phenomenon that our people come into prominence stressing on their Gypsy identity. Nowadays, Gypsy artists, who have been on the stage only with their “artist” identity in the past, can stand out with their “Romani” identity. It is another debatable question that if this situation is proper or not. Some may evaluate the display of identities as a cultural wealth while some others as an action that triggers social disintegration. Yet the point that concerns us is the affect of artists, who are on the stage with their “Romani” identity, on Gypsy society.
Unfortunately, Gypsies can not enter in the media’s dreadfully enveloping field of view as a blacksmith, a sieve seller, a tinsmith, a basket seller, a tobacco worker, a tin worker, a plastic worker or a doctor, a lawyer and an academician. Gypsies can take a part on screen only if they become a musician or a dancer as a part of the entertainment sector. For example, even “the Roma” of the “Cennet Mahallesi” serial are musicians, too. They are a part of the entertainment sector. As a result of this situation, willingly or unwillingly, the Gypsies who stand out with their artist identity have a power over the Gypsy society. Without a cognizance or maybe reluctantly, they become a representative of Gypsy society.
Today, the most visible characters of our society are Hüsnü Şenlendirici, Kibariye or Şakşuka. It is a very difficult function to represent a community. The others –Turkish citizens who are not Gypsy- evaluate the Gypsy society through you. All your positive and negative sides are not restricted with you and symbolize the whole community. Moreover, you completely become a model for young Gypsies whose concerns about the future and hopelessness turns the youth fever to a fire. You liken them to you, with your positive and negative sides. It is difficult to represent a community.
Wonder if our artist brothers and sisters are aware of their representative role of the Gypsy society. Are these people enough provident to carry this big weight? One day, Kibariye says: “They make my mother cry; they said ‘dirty Gypsy’; I have never been ashamed because of my identity!” At that time, we become proud and say that this is an ideal representative that presents us to general part of our society as powerful, proud and resolute people. We want our young Gypsy girls take their sister Kibariye as a model and do not collapse in the face of the difficulties of life. On the other hand, some day, Şakşuka takes a part in “Ünlüler Sirki”. He notices that he falls in a silly position with his uncontrolled behaviors and exaggerated image but his power cannot be equal to object! People look and laugh to him. He just says “it doesn’t matter my brothers and sisters” and cannot say anything else. We are grieved deeply and become a laughingstock for all people.
Another example is Hüsnü Şenlendirici. It is not our job to examine the art of him. There isn’t any side of his art to criticize. He is a gorgeous artist. His art influences us deeply. In the beginning, we loved him with his earnestness and his attitudes that reflect us. He symbolized both a good vision and model! But inexplicably, the problems in his private life suddenly bring him in our living rooms. Here the media is! It can grace and disgrace you! If only this artist who has been brought up by our society could protect his earnest behaviors in everyday life during these events too. He panicked and the tempestuous situation makes him do the things he never does. The cunning paparazzi jumped on to this bewilderment. They used his wife too. The words of a Romani woman, who gets angry because she lost her family, were repeated again and again. The honor of Gypsy society has been broken through an artist and an injured Romani woman. If only this was not happened.
As we said before, it is very difficult to represent a community. If only our artist friends evaluate their position from this point of view. The responsibility brings people to maturity. They should feel their responsibility and scruple. Thus they will find the right way which befits them! Otherwise this community will find other models for themselves.
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