They say Trinidad Carnival is
BACCHANAL and that without some type of disagreement or controversy the carnival
hasn’t really started. Well all yuh… this one start off on an EXCEPTIONALLY
high note with Mac Farlane’s 2017 presentation: Cazabon – The Art of Living.
When I first saw the collection
via social media, I thought “wow this is pretty” but something about it did not
resonate well with me. The images left a kinda bad taste, a feeling of uncertainty
and I couldn’t say with surety what was unsettling about them. Then I
thought, “art is supposed to make you FEEL” and in a culture that has become
predominantly bikini mas... I DEFINITELY was feeling a type of way about this
one. Let’s take a moment here to take a
small peep at the collection which was launched on 21st October 2016
at Queens Royal College :
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Thoughts? Feelings?
The thoughts and feeling about this collection have been VERY mixed. So what is the issue... I guess that will depend on your point of view. Here are three views which were posted on social media.
View 1
View 2
View 3
YEAAAA.... so when we consider:
1. What
is the origins of the Carnival? Where and why did it emerge?
2. Is it collection too racially accurate? Is this accuracy a good idea given the current race
climate in Trinidad and Tobago?
3. Is the issue that a “white” man has brought this Mas that represents a time in
Trinidad and Tobago’s history that some people still feel very deeply in their
ancestral DNA?
4. Is the perfectly white of the collection, with hints of brown, perceived as a slap in
the face from the descendants of the colonial ancestors?
5. Is it that people are taking issue with certain sections and not considering the entire
presentation?
6. Is it that the emotional intelligence that tends to accompany art, was in this
case put aside for the moment?
7. What
EXACTLY did Mac Farlane intend with this presentation? What is the context in
which this art is supposed to be performed.
Furthermore:
According to the Carnival judging rules:
" Bands are expected to portray costumes of a creative standard suitable for public display and shall not desecrate or ridicule any religion, creed or race. Any Band failing to comply with this rule will result in disqualification from the relevant Competition."
This one have the potential for real Ole Mas!
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Please share your opinions and views in the comments section below.
Rants are welcome!
Feel free to post as Anonymous
Feel free to post as Anonymous
I think his swan/ ballerina concept should have won and that he adds a good balance juxtaposing the bikini carnival wear
ReplyDeleteHowever, it's extremely sad that trini hasn't supported other ethnic persons in their creation and vision of carnival costumes
According to the Guardian, Mac Farlane said, "The band that I am designing will be focusing on the past, on those old colonial buildings. We have had some fantastic architectural structures, like the Red House, President’s House, Mille Fleurs etc. So the main purpose of the band is to bring focus to that. It will be about when those structures were in their glamour days." Trinidad Guardian, Aug. 26 2016.
ReplyDeleteThat's fine. The costumes are also gorgeous. However, you say you are focusing on the architectural structures of old, but you call your band "The Art of Living" dated during a time of slavery. What is this really a look back at then? Is it the architecture of old, or the lifestyle of old? Or the culture of old? All of the above?
As for the designers - they were all okay with this?
The danger here is portraying the colonial days as something to feel nostalgic towards, as if things were so wonderful and beautiful as those costumes are (they are fabulous!) The architecture may have been, but life (for many) was nothing near wonderful.
Mac Farlane is expected to do a Facebook LIVE chat tomorrow at noon. Maybe he will clarify further and provide additional context. It would have been nice to ask questions and get live feedback. Maybe an in person session may be more productive.
ReplyDeleteDuring the FB Live broadcast MacFarlane announced that he will be pulling a section... see Exhibit A above. Some are seeing this as further proof that he dosent understand or care about the issue... others think his appology is heart felt and he is sorry for causing hurt to some people.
ReplyDeleteInteresting...
ReplyDeleteI'm not fooled by the silence in the 'aftermath'.... I suspect this isn't over.I suspect Ash Weds will be interesting..
ReplyDeleteMacFarlane doesn't strike me as the type to not do his due research before his presentations. There's something he obviously missed with this. While the costuming itself is beautiful, his portrayal shows there's a lack of understanding of lived experiences and history of Afro-Trinidadians. As Muwakil stated in his social media post, any re-presentation by blacks was wholly as a mockery and a way to gain some integrity from an otherwise oppressive situation. That said, since we all don't make the best decisions all the time, we can give MacFarlane the opportunity to right his wrong. And maybe he (and others) can learn something from this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is over... I'm waiting to see the Ash Wednesday news reports.
Delete