Karagiozis

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Karagiozis

Karagiozis ( Greek Καραγκιόζης , from Turkish Karagöz ) is a popular Greek shadow play figure .

origin

The art of shadow theater originally comes from Asia and influenced the Arab shadow play in the Orient . It came to Greece and other countries in the Balkans via Asia Minor during the Ottoman rule in the 19th century in the form of the Turkish Karagöz Theater . The figure of Karagiozis was hellenized in Patras at the end of the 19th century by Dimitrios Sardounis alias Mimaros , who is considered the founder of modern Greek shadow theater.

The genre was picked up by the Greek population and is still popular in Greece today, although excitement has declined since the 1980s when there were regular Karagiozis shows on television.

scenario

Karagiozis and Hadjiavatis

Karagiozis is a poor, hunchbacked Greek. His right arm is too long, his clothes are patched, he is always barefoot. He lives at the time of the Ottoman Empire with his wife Aglaia and his three boys. The setting shows his hut on the left and the sultan's palace ( seraglio ) on the right . In order to support his family, Karagiozis tries to make money in a mischievous and clumsy way.

In addition to purely comedic pieces, there are those that are inspired by the liberation struggle against Ottoman rule and in which Karagiozis acts as the helper of a hero.

The plot is often based on the following scheme:

  1. Karagiozis appears dancing and singing with his three sons. He greets the audience and has funny dialogues with his children.
  2. The vizier explains that he needs someone for a specific task.
  3. Hadjiavatis obeys and begins to announce the news until Karagiozis hears it.
  4. Initially upset with Hadjiavatis, Karagiozis sees some possibility of making money.
  5. Karagiozis tries either to help the vizier or to cheat him. The other characters appear one after the other (often with a specific song as a theme melody). Karagiozis conducts funny dialogues with them, mocks them, fools them or drives them away.
  6. Finally, Karagiozis is either rewarded by the vizier or his cockiness is punished.

Some of the most famous pieces are: Alexander the Great and the Enchanted Serpent, Karagiozis as a doctor, as a cook, as a senator, as a scholar, as a prophet.

The main characters

  • Karagiozis , a poor Greek crook whose main interests are eating and sleeping.
  • Chatziavatis (Χατζηαβάτης, often written Hadjiavatis , from Turkish Hacivat ), his Turkish opponent, friend and companion of Karagiozis, is an honorable and serious, but authoritative character, who is often involved in the machinations of the Karagiozis. Often Karagiozis is informed by him, sometimes they do business with each other, sometimes he is the victim of Karagiozis' tricks.
  • Kollitiria (Κολλητήρια), the three sons of Karagiozis
  • Aglaia , his wife
  • Barba Jorgos (Μπάρμπα Γιώργος, "Uncle Giorgos"), who embodies the genuine Greek from the countryside, uncouth, strong, broad and in traditional clothing. In case of doubt, he will give his nephew an active and powerful support.
  • Stavrakas (Σταύρακας), a wretched tyrant; he is the only figure other than that of Karagiozis to have a long, movable arm. It represents the rebetiko tradition that dominates Piraeus . Karagiozis mostly makes fun of him.
  • Sior Dionysios (Σιορ Διονύσιος), an "Italian" gentleman supposedly of noble origin from the island of Zakynthos .

Pawns

The figures consist of flat paper cuts made of thin, transparently scraped and brightly colored animal skin, traditionally camel skin, but today often made of cardboard . Their size varies between 10 and 40 cm. They are openwork, so that they change light and shadow details, e.g. B. expressive eyes.

Behind the lamp-lit canvas, the figures move as colored shadows. Since the individual parts of the figures, such as the limbs, are connected by cords at the joints , but also at the head and waist , the figures can make abrupt, comical movements and funny contortions. The puppeteer controls them with the help of sticks to which they are attached. With great dexterity he conducts up to three figures and imitates the different voices.

Trivia

  • The European Court of Human Rights had to fight in the Katrami vs. Bringing Karagiozis to Greece : The journalist Alexandra Katrami had called an examining magistrate Karagiozis and had been sentenced to imprisonment (suspended) for insulting. In its judgment of December 6, 2007, the ECHR stated: “Karagiozis is a puppet, a fictional figure borrowed from Turkish culture. She is the main character of the Greek shadow theater. The use of the term "Karagiozis" has a negative connotation and refers to a person who is considered to be a Punch and is therefore judged to be ridiculous. ” However, the Court objected that the conviction for insult to imprisonment was not sufficiently weighed against freedom of expression and sentenced the Greek state to pay damages.
  • The decision by UNESCO in September 2009 to include the Karagöz Theater on the list of Turkish cultural heritage sparked violent protests in Greece.

literature

  • Walter Hege: Greek shadow games : In: Atlantis (Atlantis-Verlag, Berlin-Zurich) 2 (1931), pp. 566-572 (with 15 illustrations)
  • Walter Puchner : The new Greek shadow theater Karagiozis , Munich 1975 (Miscellanea Byzantina Monacensia; Volume 21). New edition with foreword and bibliography on the state of research up to 2012 published by Hollitzer, Vienna 2014, ISBN 978-3-99012-152-8 .
  • Louis Roussel : Karagheuz ou Un théâtre d'ombres à Athènes. Imprimerie de la Cour royale A. Raftanis, Athens 1921.
  • Ernst F. Suhr, Kerim Edinsel, Michail Triantafyllidis: Kasper - Karagöz - Karagiosis. Political theater on the puppet stage . Ararat-Verlag , Stuttgart 1985, ISBN 978-3921889213 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. Kaggelaris, Ν. (2013), Βασίλη Κωνσταντόπουλου Στοιχεία Λαϊκού πολιτισμού μέσα από την αφήγησή του , Athens, Βιβλιοεπιλογ [1] , 71- 87-87
  2. ^ Judgment of the ECHR of December 6, 2007 -19331 / 05- (English) , article: "The examining judge as Kasperl"
  3. ↑ Kathimerini of July 15, 2010: "Greece to press Karagiozis claims"

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