Carnival and the Arts
Through the development of Carnival, art forms such as the mas, calypso and steelband have added to the eminence of the festival. However, it is the creation and depiction of the mas that has through time been the hub of the festival displaying multiple artistic sources. Such sources include the ethnical influences, the growth of craftsmanship in costume design, use of motion, symbols, motifs and the act of pantomime. The making and portrayal of the mas highly indicates the richness of Carnival artistry. Ethnical influences of the mas have added to the aesthetic form of the festival. African artistic sources are present although their original form may have changed. A common theme in Carnival bands is that of Obeah, an African medicinal system. The use of motifs such as sculls, bones, shells, feathers and fiber skirts are reminiscent of African dress and are used in African masking traditions. African tribal themes are also portrayed and this requires the use of body paint, coiffures and shields. In 1984, Peter Minshall designed the costume of the "The Callaloo King" which was the reinterpretation of the masks of the African nations of Mali and Borkino Faso. At present, there are various African linked figures that are part o
An example of this would be "Queen Diana Goddess of the Hunt" which was featured in W Berkeley's Rain Forest band of 1983. It is a mixture of talent of the designer as well as the masquerader for the creation of the mas is of equal importance to the portrayal of the mas. Some pre-Columbian motifs include the Rain God and the Plumed Serpent, both of which are main Gods in the Aztec and Mayan religions. The creativity of the mas is reflected in the use of colour, choice of texture and scale of the costume. Among the favourites used by masmen are the red ibis and the tropical parrot. At present, Ken Morris runs a business that specialises in the use of copper for costume making. Indian music has also been added to the Carnival with the presence of the tassa drum. In Lil Hart's 1986 band "Islands in the Sun" colour was employed to indicate the character of each island. It has been argued that the costumes are becoming too large for the performer, so much so, that he seems to have disappeared in it as opposed to being one with it and becoming the character. Costumes may sometimes be sectioned off into fuzzy, soft and hard surfaces. The application of colour is of paramount importance to the mas as it is used to emphasize themes and the mood of the costume. The head of the portrayer is painted in red as this depicts love. However, the pantomime is also used to show the lighter side of life with the inclusion of comedic scenes.
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Acceptance Essays
