Tradition and Modernity in the Mediterranean

Download or read book Tradition and Modernity in the Mediterranean written by Vassos Argyrou and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1996-06-13 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The subject of Vassos Argyrou's study is modernisation, as reflected in the changing nature of wedding celebrations in Cyprus over two generations from the 1930s to the present day. He argues that modernisation is not a secular, progressive process, that remodels the life of a society, ironing out local differences. Rather, it is a legitimising discourse. It is an idiom which Greek Cypriots employ to represent, and contest, relationships between social classes, old and young, men and women, city folk and villagers. At the same time, by involving modernisation, they are submitting to foreign standards, and accepting the symbolic domination of Europe.