Mixing Messages with D Mas’
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| This first image of a Carnival 2020 costume incorporated garbage bags, laundry hampers and discarded elements: a dissertation on the beauty of recycling. |
“... as required reference and research fount for the dire ... exhausted for authentic meaningful imaging in the Arts.” – LeRoy Clarke, Chief Ifa Oje’ Won Yomi Abiodun, Master Artist
THE
CARNIVAL SUITE, Virginia Pacifique-Marshall’s compendium of traditional
Carnival mas’ characters, features the very first words: Renewal of Faith.
Those
who know little of the history of these characters specifically, and Trinidad
and Tobago Carnival in general, may very well ask, “What does faith have to do
with this festival.”
Ah, But
our Carnival is all about faith!
As
Pacifique-Marshall points out in the Introduction of her illustrated work:
“After Emancipation in 1838, the freed Africans took their own version of Carnival to the street. In commemoration of their release from slavery, they enacted the scene of cannes brulées (literally “burnt cane”: now known as Canboulay), on 1st August, the date of their emancipation.” -- The Carnival Suite (Feature print story)
As is necessary, out of something so purposeful arose personage filled with purpose: every Traditional Carnival incarnation has a whole narrative behind it, with a moral for the masses. In fact, many of them actually vocalise these messages, like bards and storytellers of cultures myriad and ages old.
“Carnival has its own lexicon,” -- ibid
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| Civic responsibility dictates that all people, regardless of differences, should be "given a seat at the table. Carnival demonstrates that "inclusivity," inviting in the differently-abled. |
Even
today, the festival features costumed “stage spectacle,” performance,
re-enactment, et al with the intent to tell a tale. Even large bands highlight
sections that are akin to chapters of a book, being one connected element painting
a bigger picture.
All storytelling, be it verbal, printed, visual, is rife with messages meant to make better beings out of human beings: the stuff of which civic responsibility is made.
Tell it like it should be told
In any storytelling the implication may be overt or subversive, but it always casts some measure of onus on the “reader” to interpret and obtain. The term “I get it” is so small, yet so vastly significant a desired end in any kind of communication.
Translating
the language of mas’ may require more effort from subliminal sinew to ensure effects
are not missed.
I
believe once you begin to look for the meaning in any art, all the right
muscles get stronger and stronger still, until you start to see EVERYTHING.
Shine on
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| Carnival is used as a medium for civic-minded freedom of expression of creed. |
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| Characters such as this Baby Doll and her pop culture icon beau stand as warning symbols to the masses: here, pushing cautionary vibes about irresponsible reproduction. |
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| Alpha to omega: another costume paying homage to recycling. This disposable plates fairy queen from Kiddies Carnival 2018. |
The photos here are not available for use (if you are the subject of the photo you get a bligh), but if you desire free, downloadable images of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2020 and 2019, touch the link: Jhaye-Q Trinbago photography
