| Abstrakt: |
Village-based intergenerational residencies in Bulgaria offer young, urban people a chance to experience village lifeways and connect with elderly village residents. The presence of such residencies appears not just to signify interest in villages as offering an alternative lifestyle, but interest in the cultural significance and sense of loss tied to village life. This article analyzes three such residencies, Granny Residence, Accept Me in the Village, and Borrowed Village. These experimental, aspirational forms of revitalization allow participants to “play village”, adding a fascinating dimension to the larger wave of urbanites who see potential in rural spaces. Drawing on participant observation and subject-centered interviews, I compare the features of these projects and suggest that attention to residencies as forms of interaction that provide symbolic connections to rural places and people allows for a deeper understanding of what is at stake in revitalization work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
