THE RIO CARNIVAL

Meri and Becca

A world famous festival held before Lent every year

Dates back to 1723 2 million people take to the streets each day Rio Carnival is filled with revellers, floats and

adornments from numerous samba schools located in Rio

Samba School – composed of a collaboration of local neighbours that want to attend carnival together, they have some kind of regional, geographic common background

Brief History of Rio Carnival

Carnival is the epitome of a mega event Rio Carnival is a globally recognised personality Extreme media exposure, appeals to the

masses Generates significant economic, political, social

and cultural capital Brazil basically stops for almost a week and festivities are intense day and night!

Carnival as a Mega Event

Pre modern – built around tradition, myth, rituals and

seasons Modern - rationalises spaces (Sambadrome) and have

become industrial Post modern – commodified – market values for signs

and symbols - celebritised and disneyfied – altogether voyeuristic - carnival has become meaningless - very controlled event – but comes across at chaotic

Carnival in Context

Local identity – design in performance of carnival National identity – reflective of national views International/global identity – impressions we expect

to see are played out through the media around the world – usually overindulgent and libidinous

Global identity – carnival has significance to so many nations and has developed a global personality

Heritage – African and European influences in Samba Carnivalesque – increasingly standardised around

the world

Identities at the Carnival

Rio Carnival is a very gendered event! Parade is predominantly women Objectification of women?

Gendered Idenites

Success of event has put Rio on the map Reinforces Brazilian culture – music and dance Commodification of culture...

Brazilian Identity

Media spectacle (Kellner) and interest has helped create

the spectacle seen at the Rio Carnival Reinforces global spectacle – consumed around the

world as well as in Rio de Janiero Carnival is passively consumed spectacle for some carnival can oppose the spectacle (DeBord, 1967) –

political elements

Spectacle

An event this large has many impacts on the host city. Economic – millions for city, but where does this money

go? Slums Social – in Brazil, carnival focused on the lower classes

but now the upper classes participate with tickets in the sambadrome costing up to $500 each, this is also littered with celebs – brings communities together to put shows together

Political – used as a politcal tool – generates regeneration income – is this the case in Brazil?

Social, economic and cultural impacts

Whole city stops for almost a week The celebrations gives everyone a chance to

be involved, street festivals – free However... Increase in crime – lack of security

Local

Worlds perception of Brazil – flamboyant,

beautiful women, etc Through globalisation, Brazilian influences

have spread over the globe, music dance and culture

The traits of Rio Carnival can be enjoyed everywhere

Global

How much do you think the Rio Carnival

benefits the Brazilian people? Do you think the Rio Carnival is still seen as a

religious festival?

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