As
Greeks look inward, they see a country that produces nothing of value
and is inferior to the rest of the world - despite evidence to the
contrary. The country has been mentally colonized, with outside
powers convincing the Greeks that they can do no better.
by
Michael Nevradakis
Part
5 - Devaluing the domestic, lionizing the foreign
The cultural
and mental colonization of Greece has also resulted in the phenomenon
of mimicry. The behaviors and habits of the “civilized West” are
increasingly being adopted and naturalized, at the expense of
anything Greek. Domestic products and culture are often viewed as
passé, old-fashioned, or outdated.
The examples
are numerous. For instance, it is fashionable for Greek women to
ensure their skin is as white and pale as possible—quite an
accomplishment in a Mediterranean climate and with a Mediterranean
skin tone—while blonde is the hair color of choice. Young men have
fully adopted hipster fashion, including full beards and “retro”
mustaches, in another trend that has arrived from abroad.
In the movie
“National Lampoon’s European Vacation,” a stereotypical French
waiter snidely remarks in French, “two American champagnes” when
the Griswold family orders two Coca-Colas. Today, a more apt
description might be “Greek champagne.” Attentive guests at
restaurants in Greece, in observing the habits of Greek patrons, will
notice that Coca-Cola products are consumed at practically every
table, while beer, instead of wine or retsina or ouzo, is
overwhelmingly the alcoholic beverage of choice.
In everyday
conversation, more and more English words are making their
appearance, not just in order to describe new, foreign concepts or
ideas for which there may not necessarily be a Greek translation, but
also words for which there is a perfectly ordinary Greek equivalent.
For instance, “live” is now used to denote a live broadcast or a
live concert, instead of the Greek equivalents of “live.” “Off”
is uttered instead of the Greek equivalent, while other words and
phrases such as “air conditioning” or “parking” are now far
more commonly used than their well-known and easy-to-remember Greek
language versions. Looking at Greece’s burgeoning startup scene,
the lingua franca is English, even in social media conversations
between Greeks, residing in Greece, who are active in this sector.
Insisting on speaking only in Greek is a surefire way to be branded
“old-fashioned” or “nationalist.”
An
examination of storefronts in any city, town, or tourist resort in
Greece will show that the majority of business names are non-Greek.
Most television and radio stations have adopted foreign or
transliterated names: “Skai” (Sky) TV and Radio, Star Channel,
Antenna TV, Alpha TV and Epsilon TV (written in English), Real FM,
Athens Deejay, Sport FM, Kiss FM, and numerous others. Foreign names
are considered “hip” and “marketable,” Greek names
old-fashioned and backward.
Indeed, as a
radio producer, I’ve found that scanning a city’s radio stations
often provides great insights into the local culture and tastes. In
Athens, more radio stations play non-Greek music than Greek music.
More radio stations in Athens play American and British pop and rock
music, than in New York City or London. The aforementioned
“xenomania” in all its glory.
The
pale-skinned women and the men with bushy hipster beards and Uncle
Pennybags mustaches are often seen adorning apparel and accessories,
such as t-shirts or handbags, which prominently display the British
or American or even German flags. Wearing anything depicting the
Greek flag, however, is a swift and certain way to be branded a
member of the “far-right,” a “nationalist,” an
“ethnocentrist,” a “racist,” and a “xenophobe.”
In Athens
and in all cities and towns throughout Greece, many of the major
thoroughfares are not named after prominent Greeks of the country’s
ancient and modern past (save for politicians, who ensured certain
roads were named after themselves), but are named after members of
Greece’s foreign-imposed and long-abolished Bavarian royalty, such
as Queen Amalia and King Constantine. These street names serve as
everyday reminders of Greece’s neo-colonial past. Famous ancient
Greek figures such as Socrates and Plato are typically relegated to
the names of secondary thoroughfares and back streets.
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