Tradition and Modernity in the Mediterranean: The Wedding as Symbolic Struggle (Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology, Series Number 101)

The subject of Vassos Argyrou's study is modernization, as reflected in the changing nature of wedding celebrations in Cyprus over two generations. He argues that modernization is not a secular, progressive process that remodels the life of a society, ironing out local differences. Rather, it is an idiom-a legitimizing discourse-in which Cypriots represent, and contest, relationships among social classes, old and young, men and women, city folk and villagers. At the same time, by involving modernization, they are submitting to foreign standards, and accepting the symbolic domination of Europe. 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 "The subject of Vassos Argyrou's study is modernization, as reflected in the changing nature of wedding celebrations in Cyprus over two generations. He argues that modernization is not a process that makes a society "modern" but a legitimizing discourse. It is an idiom that Greek Cypriots employ to represent, and contest, relationships between social classes, old and young, men and women, the city and the village. It is also the way in which they conceptualize, and submit to, the symbolic domination of Europe."--Jacket The subject of Vassos Argyrou's study is modernisation, as reflected in the changing nature of wedding celebrations in Cyprus over two generations. He argues that modernisation is not a process that makes a society 'modern', but a legitimising discourse.

argyrou Examines Modernisation, Reflected In The Changing Nature Of Wedding Celebrations In Cyprus Over Two Generations.

It is May 1991. The flight from London Heathrow to Larnaca airport takes just over four hours.