Cultural polyphony and identity formation: negotiating tradition in Attica

Abstract

Over the past century the Messogitic communities of Attica have been seen by the Athenian elite as degenerate and marginal groups because of two elements central to their culture: the Arvanitic language and retsina wine. These elements were perceived as undermining the elite's project of constructing a homogenous Creek nation‐state based on links to the ancient Greek language, a classical spirit, and a glorified vision of the folk. This dismissive discourse has influenced the ways Messogites have viewed themselves as well as the Athenians, and has given rise to a counterdiscourse. In this article, I attempt to follow the dialogue between the dominant Athenian discourse and the Messogitic counterdiscourse as these have been transformed over time. Arguing that traditions and I'dentities are not only constantly invented in an ongoing negotiation process, I also seek to show how symbolic elements can be appropriated by different groups and invested with novel meanings and significance in what I call a double dialectic of tradition. However, I contend, this process does not necessarily improve the subordinates' position, but may lead to their further marginalization.