The Nature of Carnival and Reflexing the Culture - Coursework Example

Introduction The term carnival has its root in the word carnevale which means ‘to avoid meet’. The tradition of carnival has been started by Catholics of Italy and it was celebrated just before the Lent when Catholics observe a period of abstinence and avoid eating meet. With the time carnival culture spread to other European catholic countries such as France, Spain and Portugal. During the colonial era carnivals reached to other parts of the word with their colonial masters. Carnival is a period of fun, dance, music and celebrations. Carnival is often defined as an amalgamation of the ritual negotiation of cultural identity and practice by the Diaspora of a culturally rich land. Carnival and related activities are generally a transformation of local traditional beliefs and rituals. Different rituals in carnivals are validated on the belief that they bring good fortune, solve problems, and appease out angry forefathers passed in a new world. Carnivals reflect the culture from where they originate. Following discussions will bring out the cultural reflections from rituals and celebrations of carnivals. Three carnivals, Carnival of Veneza, Notting Hill Carnival and Australian Carnival Mardi Grass are discussed in particular to show how different rituals are influenced from the land of their origin. Carnival and the Culture Form Where It Comes From All carnivals, from Rio to Australian Mardi Gras, give a peek in to the culture of their origin. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is considered as one of the biggest show of celebration on the earth. It is best example of cultural reflections on carnivals. Samba, a dance brought over by African slaves with them, is the main attraction of the celebration. The dance has seen a rapid transformation over years, it was fused with the choros, street bands of Brazil, but still its vivacious color and free spirited movements reflects an African culture and reminds of its historical evolution. Carnival of Veneza The history of carnival of Veneza dates back to 2nd May 1268. Carnival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, masks have been central theme of the celebrations. People wear different types of Venetian masks such as Bauta, Moretta and Larva and disguise themselves as a symbolism of social and economical equality. Wearing of masks has been prohibited many times under different governments citing different political and religious issues and the carnival was dormant for several centuries. The origin of carnival of Veneza has several historical significances. It roots back to celebration in Piazzetta San Marco, which was a commemoration of victory of the Serenissima Republic over the patriarch Ulrico. There were several rituals of cutting bull representing Ulrico and 12 well-fed pigs every year for Carnival Thursday but these rituals have disappeared with time and different rulers of Venice. Due to its origin in Venice most of rituals of this carnival have had a religious significance. Carnival of Veneza illustrates the glorious Catholic era and reflects the existence or at least the realization of social, political and economic equality in society. Masks are argued as a camouflage to the social divide. Masks have become the symbol of transgression and freedom from the severe social rules imposed by the Serenissima Republic. It directly reminds the restrictive laws imposed on Venice by government. Carnival and wearing of masks is governed by Catholic’s religious beliefs and reflects cultural bent. "The Carnival in Venice" is a unique cultural statement, a kaleidoscope of European sophistication, finery and fun [Hoberman, 2005]. Carnival of Veneza and its various celebrations give glimpse of its history and impact of strong Catholic culture. Saint Mark’s Square still remains the center stage of the celebration indicating a clear religious inclination of the celebrations. Masks wore during the carnival and celebration also reminds of a rich theater culture of Venice. Famous Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni, some of the most popular characters of the commedia dellarte, the Italian popular form of improvisational theater, also called "comedy of humors", became actual stereotypes, perfectly reflecting Venetian society [Nalesso, 2008]. Notting Hill Carnival Notting Hill Carnival has been spreading its magic on the streets of Notting Hill, London, UK each August, over two days since 1965. The carnival was initiated and traditionally led by immigrants from the Caribbean. It has a clear reflection of Caribbean culture. All major attractions of the festival i.e. Mas (masquerade), Steelband, Calypso (political, social and satirical commentary, set to music), Soca (the traditional music of Carnival, a fusion of Soul and Calypso), Static Sound Systems, and Samba have a clear footprints of Caribbean especially Trinidad’s culture. Notting Hill Carnival, originally held in several halls, it was a showcase for Caribbean talent considering the slogan, A peoples art is the genesis of their freedom. During the 60s it got closer to the Trinidadian carnival roots with street processions, costumes and Masqueraders. The Jamaican sound systems joined in and the carnival as we know it today took shape. There is a clear reflection on of Caribbean cultural dynamics, language, Literature, and Identity on the carnival. Glittering colonial costumes and Caribbean beats on the streets of Notting Hill have been the object of central attraction for millions of people worldwide. The vivid costumes and masquerades, which form the main theme of the celebrations, give cultural overview of the time when Slavery system was at its peak in Caribbean region. Black peoples and slaves used to wear masks to mimic their masters as a passive rebellion and stress relief. The same or similar masquerading in the carnival represents the same psychosis of the liberation from repression. Though the Notting Hill Carnival has assimilated local pop and club culture and cultural contribution of the other communities inhabiting London, the strong Caribbean identity of the carnival is hard to miss. Australian Carnival Mardi Gras Australian Mardi Grass Carnival or Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is a unique celebration. Started on October 20, 1978 as a protest march for gay rights and commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, it has grown into one of the biggest events in Australian. Australian Mardi Grass is organized on October 20th of every year irrespective of Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday. It is celebrated by members of Australias gay and lesbian community as a day of tearing off inhibitions. Gays and lesbians dresses up in colorful costumes and dance in the streets to popular songs, entertaining the thousands who turn up for the street party. Australian Carnival Mardi Gras is a completely theatrical show. It seems an extension of Operas with a different hue and an extraordinary theme. The expansion and depth of Mardi Gras celebrations and national and international appeal of street parades and Mardi Gras party has, overtime, acquired professionalization [Haggerty, 2000]. The Mardi Gras represents an emergence of political and moral sensibility. The Nature of Carnival Nature of carnivals varies over a period of time. The same carnival may be a form of religious rituals at some time and may act as a medium of social uplift at another time. Several festivals all over the world which have been started as a form of social congregation have turned in to a representation of self esteem and celebrated with the purpose of giving a cultural image to the cities. Carnivals serve social functions of uniting members of a community and developing a channel of interaction between different communities. For example, Notting Hill Carnival has provided an ideal platform for Caribbean immigrants in London to assimilate them in local culture and dissolve the cultural differences with local population. According to www.mynottinghill.co.uk “This great festival began initially from the energies of black immigrants from the Caribbean, in particular, Trinidad, where the Carnival tradition is very strong, and from people living locally, who dreamed of creating a festival to bring together the people of Notting Hill, most of whom were facing racism, lack of working opportunities and poor housing conditions resulting in a general suppression of good self-esteem”. Nature of carnivals has greatly affected by the different factors such as how and in what conditions it originated, how it was spread around the world and how it has assimilated local cultures of the land. Activities of the celebration and the central themes of the carnivals often include the current issues facing the masses. New dimensions to the festivities are added every year of celebration. With the globalization and evolution of mass media communication carnivals have widely seen as a major economic attraction. Carnivals have been a catalyst to social and economic developments in several ways. They generate tourism revenues for the local governments and create employment opportunities for a large section of population. Masks manufacturing is a big cottage industry in todays Venice, it generates employment for thousands of local population. Carnival organizers generally try to mix historical and cultural elements with the celebration menu to give host city a distinct cultural identity and help in attracting more visitors from all over the world. In fact, carnivals have become a business of profit and loss for organizers. Organizers generally have a business plan to attract a large number of national and international visitors and the success or failure of the festival is calculated according to profits earned by the organizers. Governments all over the world now promote and support carnival culture as a part of their overall strategy to develop cultural tourism and economic development. Nature of carnivals is changing rapidly to accommodate these kinds of strategic issues. For example, there could be addition of some particular kind of activity that may attract a large number of foreign tourists. Carnivals have become the status issue for different cities where they are held. Number of foreign tourists and local participants are used to create the benchmark for the popularity of the event. Carnivals in some countries are also a part of religious overtones and a medium for representing religious beliefs. For example, carnival in Oruro of Bolivia is purely of a religious nature. It is characterized by symbolic devil dances and other rituals of religious significance such as dance around bonfires. These kinds of carnivals represent a certain idea or often characterized with rituals to appease some spiritual force. Carnival of Venice also has a religious touch; different festival activities have a reflection of traditional Catholic beliefs and rituals. In fact, most of the carnivals all around the world have their origin in the religious faiths which has changed to celebration of mass revelry over time. Carnivals have been also a part of social and political debate all over the world. They have led to riots and political unrest. Australia’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras carnival, for example, has always been an issue of political censure and social stigma before a wider acceptance of these kinds of human tendencies. Carnival of Notting Hill was also marred several times with widespread riots when people of Caribbean origin struggled with police due to a sense of apparent racial discrimination of immigrant population. Conclusion The above discussion highlights different aspects of carnivals, their cultural inheritance and significance in modern societies. It illustrates how modern carnivals give a cultural footprint of their origin and time. Nature of carnivals is rapidly changing to accommodate the modern economic strategies such as tourism promotion and generation of employments for local populations. Nature of carnival is also forcefully tweaked several times to give it a distinctive identity and promote as a cultural symbolism of host city. References: 1. Notting Hill Carnival. [Online] Available at: http://www.nottinghillcarnival.org.uk/ [Accessed 18 October 2008]. 2. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Gay_and_Lesbian_Mardi_Gras [Accessed 18 October 2008]. 3. Venice Carnival. [Online] Available at: http://www.carnivalofvenice.com [Accessed 18 October 2008]. 4. Venice Carnival. [Online] Available at: http://www.visitvenice.co.uk/venice-carnival.html [Accessed 18 October 2008]. 5. Notting Hill Carnival. [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/157537.stm [Accessed 18 October 2008]. 6. Hoberman, G., 2005. Carnival in Venice. New title edition. The Gerald & Marc Hoberman Collection. 7. Nalesso, R., 2008. The masks of Venice. [Online] Available at: http://www.meetingvenice.it/venice-carnival/maschere-e-costumi-di-carnevale/le-maschere-veneziane.html [Accessed 18 October 2008]. 8. Haggerty, G., 2000. Gay Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia. Published by Taylor & Francis. Read More