Creolizing the Modern: Transylvania across Empires

Modernity, coloniality, and interimperiality are intertwined through historical Transylvania, offering a platform for a multi-level reading of Liviu Rebreanu's 1920 novel Ion. The book explores themes such as capitalist integration, antisemitism, enslavement of Roma, multilingualism, gender relations, and religion. Creolizing the Modern develops a comparative method for engaging with areas with conflicting imperial and anti-imperial histories.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Modernity, coloniality, and interimperiality are complex and interconnected phenomena that have shaped the world in profound ways. Anca Parvulescu and Manuela Boatcă offer innovative decolonial perspectives that aim to creolize modernity and the modern world-system. Their approach bridges the humanities and social sciences, drawing on historical examples to explore the complexities of these systems.

Historical Transylvania, located at the intersection of the Habsburg Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, provides a unique platform for their multi-level reading of Liviu Rebreanu's 1920 novel Ion. The novel explores a range of themes, including the region's capitalist integration, antisemitism, the enslavement of Roma, multilingualism, gender relations, and religion.

Creolizing the Modern develops a comparative method for engaging with areas of the world that have inherited multiple, conflicting imperial and anti-imperial histories. It challenges the dominant narratives that have shaped our understanding of these systems and seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

One of the key themes of Creolizing the Modern is the question of the region's capitalist integration. Rebreanu's novel highlights the ways in which capitalism has shaped the region's economy, society, and culture. It shows how capitalism has led to the exploitation of workers, the concentration of wealth, and the marginalization of certain groups. However, it also shows how capitalism has created opportunities for social mobility and economic development.

Another theme of Creolizing the Modern is antisemitism. Rebreanu's novel depicts the persecution of Jews in the region, including the Holocaust. It shows how antisemitism has been used as a tool of oppression and how it has contributed to the marginalization of Jewish communities. However, it also shows how Jewish communities have resisted and survived antisemitism.

The enslavement of Roma is another theme of Creolizing the Modern. Rebreanu's novel highlights the ways in which Roma have been enslaved and exploited throughout history. It shows how Roma have been treated as second-class citizens and how they have been denied access to education, healthcare, and other basic rights. However, it also shows how Roma have resisted and survived enslavement.

Multilingualism is another theme of Creolizing the Modern. Rebreanu's novel depicts the multilingualism of the region, with many different languages spoken throughout the region. It shows how multilingualism has been a source of cultural richness and diversity but has also been a source of conflict and discrimination. However, it also shows how multilingualism has been used as a tool of resistance and empowerment.

Gender relations are another theme of Creolizing the Modern. Rebreanu's novel depicts the gender roles and expectations of women in the region. It shows how women have been marginalized and oppressed throughout history and how they have resisted and survived these conditions. However, it also shows how women have been active in the struggle for gender equality and how they have contributed to the development of the region.

Religion is another theme of Creolizing the Modern. Rebreanu's novel depicts the religious diversity of the region, with many different religions practiced throughout the region. It shows how religion has been a source of conflict and division but has also been a source of unity and solidarity. However, it also shows how religion has been used as a tool of oppression and how it has contributed to the marginalization of certain groups.

In conclusion, modernity, coloniality, and interimperiality are complex and interconnected phenomena that have shaped the world in profound ways. Anca Parvulescu and Manuela Boatcă offer innovative decolonial perspectives that aim to creolize modernity and the modern world-system. Their approach bridges the humanities and social sciences, drawing on historical examples to explore the complexities of these systems. Creolizing the Modern develops a comparative method for engaging with areas of the world that have inherited multiple, conflicting imperial and anti-imperial histories. It challenges the dominant narratives that have shaped our understanding of these systems and seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Weight: 424g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501766565