The Two Madonnas: The Politics of Festival in a Sardinian Community

by Sabina Magliocco

Now updated, this former Chicago Folklore Prize winner is a major contribution to our understanding of the roles that festivals play in European village life. Portrayed by early travel writers as ancient pagan survivals, festivals in Sardinia have long fascinated both native islanders and outsiders. But at the dawn of the twenty-first century, this Mediterranean island has become part of a global economy, and its festivals attract tourists from around the world. This detailed ethnography explores the effects of globalization on two Sardinian festivals over the course of the twentieth century, reflecting the double pull of tradition and modernity on the popular imagination and their sometimes devastating effects on local cultures. It vividly and insightfully describes the continuing struggles of community members to shape and control these important expressions of local identity, as they strive to create a space for themselves in the margins of Europe.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Sabina Magliocco is a professor of Anthropology and Folklore at California State University, Northridge. She is an author of non-fiction books and journal articles about folklore, religion, religious festivals, foodways, witchcraft and Neo-Paganism in Europe and the United States.

A recipient of fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright Program and Hewlett Foundation, Magliocco is an honorary fellow of the American Folklore Society. From 2004 to 2009, she served as editor of Western Folklore, the quarterly journal of the Western States Folklore Society.

Reviews

[Izzy Thurber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m doing field study with Dr. Magliocco next month and this was a required pre-reading. An awesome introduction to the field site and the writing was lovely. Also she’s just an incredible professor and human so I factored that into my rating as well.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the author's class at Cal State University - Northridge. The 2nd edition has an important afterword that addresses changes in recent years. Anthropology isn't my strongest subject, but I did like this ethnography. :)