The term carnival brings to our mind the sport of joy, pleasure, enjoyment, and merrymaking. The term carnival has a Greek origin and was mainly prevalent in the western culture. It usually takes place before the onset of the liturgical season of Lent. However, these concepts of carnivals have undergone many transitions because of the scholarly theories that have been forwarded by many of the theorists. To name some, there are Bakhtin, Victor Turner, and Hobsbawm. There are so many festivals that take place in the modern day society. One among them is the Melbourne Cup Carnival. This essay will discuss that though there are many changes in the contemporary carnivals still one can find traces of the ancient scholarly theories within them.
In the first instance, this essay will be describing the three different theories that have been given by the three scholars named above.
Turner et al (2017) has argued that the carnivals can be studied in the form of new cultures and traditions. This is beacuse much of the idea of carnivals have changed in the modern days. Victor Turner has invented the concept of liminality and communitas. He recognized festivals as something that removes the individuals from their own identity and position that they usually occupy within their society (Turner et al. 2017). This is a symbolic removal of the individuals from their own social identical positions. Thus it is a time or a phase in which the individuals are in an in-between stage where they are trying to interact with one another and get rid of the social differences or the racial discriminations amongst them. This liminality gives rise to the concept of communitas. This is a phase where the individuals are in a form of structureless society. In other words, there is no hegemonic rule that dominates the individuals and they are in a structure-less and independent society. They are all equal and independent. This concept of communitas and liminality brings about a society built on the principles of equality and solidarity.
Bakhtin however had a different argument as far as the method of carnivals is concerned. Bakhtin (1994) argued that, it was a time that made the dilution of the gap between the rich and poor (Bekker 2018). It is a time when the rich and the lower sections of the society join each other in the act of merrymaking. It is a time when people can imitate each other, mock each other and even rebel against each other. However, Bakhtin developed this concept during his time when there was a huge fear of the Stalinism. So he wanted to develop this concept where the dominated people can actually act out their desires and the pain that they suffer through (Cohen 2017). The stress is on the concept of THE PEOPLE, which meant that it was a time for the people. It is during this time that these people can feely act out the day to day happenings of their lives. It was an attempt to blur the line between the performers and the viewers. In other words, each and everyone who is a part of that event takes equally and there are actually no such set rules or laws that people have to follow.
On the other hand, Hobsbawm, E., (2015) has argued that in the modern times carnivals are largely being influenced by the new invented traditions. The final and the third concept is that of invented tradition by Eric Hobsbawm. He is of the opinion that in the contemporary society many of the traditions have come into play. These new traditions help in connecting people to each other. They are instrumental in joining these people to the territories irrespective of their socio-cultural or socio-political differences. The newly invented traditions help to create a feeling of unity and cohesion among people. Secondly, they help in putting a limit on the social institutions. Thirdly it gives the independence to all the people to invent their own styles, expressions, conventions through which they can express themselves to the rest of the world communities (Thorvaldsen et al 2018).
As was prevalent in the ancient concept of carnivals that it is a time when the local and the higher class people meet and interact with another forgetting all their differences. One can see the same in this event as well. There is he attempts to satisfy then charitable means as well. (Winter 2017).
It is basically the am attempt of celebrating the abnormal or the things that are otherwise considered to be abnormal and queer. Even in the carnival definition or the theory that was developed by Bakhtin, emphasized this fact. This is because on those days people in general and the women, in particular, wanted to hide that what was insignificant in their body. In other words, they used to be ashamed of those parts of their body that were condemned by the society or the hegemonic powers of the society. However, this carnival gave a freedom to all the people irrespective of their grotesqueness. It was basically an attempt to celebrate the SELF or the BODY. This was basically an attempt through which the common people could mock against the power of capitalism or the power of hierarchy (Capstick and Chatwin 2016).
It can be arguable said that Turner (1969) idea of theory of liminality and commuitas in applicable to MCC to some extent. It is a festival where people can interact with one another irrespective of their social differences and their racial differences as well. This carnival is for all and people from each and every part of the world can come and be a part of the society. It is also a festival that gives enough space to form a human bond with one another (Thomassen 2016). There is no imposition of any strict code of conduct on the individuals. So, it can be said that MCC to some extent can be studied under the light of Turner’s theory of liminality and commuitas.
The idea of new invented tradition by Hobswabm seems to be apt for this festival because of there a large number of new traditions and ideas that have been added. These ideas help in bringing people closer to one another (Cornips and De Rooij 2015). It also opens a very wide platform where people can develop their own expressions, rules, and regulations that would help them to demonstrate themselves in front of the entire world. The MCC has also brought within itself a large number of events that are having a touch of the ancient concepts along with aspects of modernism.
This same concept is kept in mind in this Melbourne Cup Carnival as well. This is because horse racing is one of the major attractions of this carnival, thousands of audiences gather each and every year to watch this racing shows and be a part of the auspicious moment of seeing the horsemen crossing the finishing line. There is a huge excitement that is present within each and every audience. There is this natural tendency within almost all the viewers to be a part of this event (Lee 2016). There is also a media coverage that is given to these events. Media coverage is one of the basic and common parts of the carnivals that take place in this modern contemporary society.
LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP DAY is one such horse riding show that is one of the list essential parts of this Melbourne Cup Carnival. It is one of the very compulsory things that is kept in the TO Do list of all the people who come to this carnival. There is also a touch of the tradition and the customs that are maintained in this Melbourne Cup carnival. Cross-dressing was also one of the most important aspects of the ancient carnivals. It was a time when people could actually mock or challenge the taboos of the society through their bold mockeries or their performances. This tradition is also followed in the contemporary carnivals like the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Both men and women have the freedom of wearing any fashion styles that they like and show their grace and their style in their own possible way (Cohen 2017).
A good exam pole is that of the AAMI Victoria Derby Day. This is a beautiful amalgamation of then grace and the traditions as well.
As argued by Turner et al (2017) rituals and customs play a very essential role in any carnivals. This is because the very origin of the concept of carnivals is rooted in culture and customs. Customs is always a very complicated, rigid and yet a symbolic and deep concept that is very close to people. Culture and tradition were always a very important part and parcel of the events and the carnivals (Bal et al. 2016). Community rodeo is one of the very important cultural aspects that are largely dominant in the western countries and particularly in the United States. There are two most important characteristic features of this custom. The first is the objective of bringing people together where they can talk and interact with one another. This is, mainly done through the means of eating, dancing, singing and, merrymaking. Barbeque is one of the important tools to obtain this ritual. The next or the second objective is to bring the people together as the audiences for a performance. In other words, there will be a mix and match of eating, merrymaking and also some very significant activities.
As per the opinion of Shalinsky (1985), it can be argued that the same is also true in case of the MELBOURNE Cup festival. A huge range of food is available that people can enjoy while interacting with one another. There are some very well known restaurants like the Panorama restaurant, then Skyline restaurant and others that bring the people together where they can eat and drink together and raise a toast to their happy and delightful moment. It is one of the very Elite games where the man and the women participants dress in the most beautiful and the elegant dresses. There is also the hosting of the Myer Fashion competition that is conducted on the fields for both the men and the women (Toogood 2015).
As far as the second objective of the bringing together the people is concerned it is needless to say that the races are one of the major performances that people come to watch in this carnival. So, it is seen that even in the modern day fest and carnivals, one can find the traces of the ancient models of carnivals. One of the events that are conducted during this carnival is the Stakes Day event. This is a very good opportunity for bringing the family and the children together. It is one of the very great opportunities that are given by the carnival.
They also make sure to provide natural energy to the local residents’ so that they can lead a good and organized lifestyle. SmilePower is an initiative taken by them to provide clean and fresh energy in Tasmania. They also try to communicate with all their members, investors and the patrons through newsletters, racebooks, and all other such media (Emery 2017). So, it is understandable that MCC follows the ancient vibes of carnivals but in a new light. They make sure that they are being successful in inventing some new and interesting traditions (like Hobswabm’s concept of invented traditions) to express themselves to the world. They take a modern approach in all their endeavours.
Bakhtin’s idea of carnival is applicable in the overall construction of the MCC as it helps in blurring the line between the differences among people that are usually created by the society. People can come and interact with one another. The importance is given to the intermingling of people coming from all class, colors, and social backgrounds. However, there is no such concept of grotesqueness in this festival. As it is a very modern festival it has many new events like fashion shows, display of very well-known fashion brands, elite horse ridings, and others. So, there is actually no such concept of fear or horror the feeling of grotesqueness within it.
So, it can be concluded that the Melbourne Cup Carnival can be studied in the light of all the three concepts of carnivals that have been discussed in this easy. However, Hobsbawm (2010) the idea of invented tradition by Hobswamb seems arguably the best and the apt idea for MCC, because there are a large number of new traditions that have been invented. MCC is sticking to the ancient concept of horse ridings, dressing, and merrymaking with food and drinks but in the shade of modern version. They are also involving many well-known fashion brands in their show as well. This is indeed a very modern approach. They also follow a certain way in which the men and women stand on the race grounds dressed in their black and white dresses respectively. All together they form a certain combination of ancient and modern aspects of the carnival. This helps MCC to express itself in a very unique way to the outside communities of the world.
MCC is already doing a very good job by involving many of the customs that were prevalent in the early concept of carnival. They are celebrating an occasion for all the people irrespective of their class, creed, social status and their financial status. MCC must be conducting some new firms cultural shows that will talk about the history of carnivals and will particularly show the deep traditional aspects that are involved. They can conduct some light and sound show here they will be displaying the ancient pictures of carnivals so that it can be easier for the audiences to relate with..
References
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