Legislative Theatre

Thoughts about 'Carnival' in the reading:

The first question that came upon me as I was reading about Carnival, is what did the government think about these festivities? Were they afraid that because people were able to express themselves so freely, and thoroughly enjoyed this freedom, that they would begin to act like that in their personal lives? Was giving people too much freedom potentially dangerous to the established order of their society? If I was a participant of Carnival, my inkling afterword would be to upset the established order; cause a little chaos. It seems like the intoxicating freedom of Carnival was a wonderful thing that the people had the opportunity to experience, but what happened after Carnival was over? Does one simply return back to his minimum-wage job, asshole of a boss, and filthy one-room apartment so easily and without the urges of a potential rebellion against these oppressors in his life? Bakhtin, a Russian Philosopher, mentions that Carnvial "belongs to the borderline between art and life" This type of engagement in an activity, I imagine, would spark a whole lot of social change. It reminded me of Brecht's style in many ways; performing as a social examination, and no exact barriers between audience and performer.

On a lighter note, It is wonderful to think that the people of these societies were able and willing to participate in Carnival. People seemed to be able to drop their differences and co-exist in the most potentially human way possible. It just goes to show that people inherently want to be free--we are playful beings. The fact that Carnival is based upon laughter, even though it can seem a little 'cultish' when one first reads about it, is such an interesting notion. Laughter is beautiful. It keeps people healthy.