This is what happens when passionate, culture-loving folks meet up, whether in person, or as in this case, online. Logged via our Facebook Page, the following bit of communicae started out as just a comment on the TRIBE Carnival 2010 review I posted yesterday.Brian Wong Won, a noted Trinidad-born artist and Mas' man in his own right, responded to the post, and the commenting quickly morphed into an all out, impromptu discussion about the degradation of what we all love - Trinidad Carnival and Masquerade:
Brian Wong Won:- "I think they (TRIBE Carnival) have more feathers this year than last, when the theme was Birds. This year, only the Peter Elias section carries out the theme well, in my opinion. But overall, most of the Carnival bands seem stuck in the "Vegas Showgirl" formula, and it's getting quite long in the tooth.
Au Courant:- Brian, you are so right! It's like TRIBE had a surplus of feathers from this year's presentation (2009's Birds of a Feather,) and they said 'What the heck - let's use it! No one will notice it's not silk, man!" Why don't they work with artists like you on their portrayals!!??!!"
BWW:- "I really don't know. It's not to say "The Secret of Silk" is a hard theme to portray; its not like a Peter Minshall mas, but oh gosh, do some proper research, nah? The theme had abundant potential with all those cultures and variances on them to draw from, but they give this Vegas nonsense again.
I am not looking for a Brian Macfarlane nor a Minshall style Mas' here, but at least do some work and don't use the Vegas motif every year like that! This lackluster, lazy attitude does nothing for the advancement of Mas'. And I extend this to almost all the bands. Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) has an abundance of artistically gifted people, so why not use their talents?
I really fear our youth will never see nor experience the power of the Mas' at this rate, and the world shall soon class T&T Carnival as, or like that, of Brazil. Had the theme been "Vegas in T&T," TRIBE's 2010 the costumes would have fitted beautifully; I really expected more.
It's as you said in your post: "A case of death by feathers!" Good thing there's no bird flu scare right now..."
AuC:- "You know, it's really saddening; everyone has internet access these days, so even if - as a designer - you don't know much, it can't be that hard to do a little design research. But you know what?
Until the costume-buying public calls a spade a spade, and vociferously complains about the regurgitated Vegas Mas', those costume makers will keep churning out the same nonsense, year after year. It is really spoiling the culture..."
BWW:- "So true! Gone are the days when you're like a possessed pack rat, making copious notes and Xerox copies of the library books for costume research! Today it's so easy to do design research with computers. But the public will continue to buy, as that is all they know Mas' to be, especially the foreigners.
I have never seen any band to step out of the norm, with the exception of Brian MacFarlane most recently, to do otherwise. We see some sections doing wonderful things from time to time, but it does not last. If I recall it was Lil' Hart who introduced the bikini mas, but even that band used to follow a theme well; a trait that Harts still continues with today - especially the men's costumes.
Harts is one of the few bands to really do excellent men's costumes, as well as women's. So it's not to say these Bikini Mas' designers don't have the ability to create variety. But this lackluster trend nowadays is making the culture of Carnival stagnant; how many variations of the same Vegas showgirls costume must we endure, year after year, from different bands?
And it's not to say we must banish the bikini mas from Carnival, but rather the actual costumes and designs could benefit from further development and variation."
Well said, Brian!
LMN Harris.
NB Image courtesy Trinidad Carnival Diary
First off, i love this convo. Believe or not, i though i was the only one that recognize this in trini carnival cause, i been here 4yrs now but never look at it as the "vegas showgirls". But yet i remember my aunt saying, every year is the same and in her words bikini and features,lol. Due to that, i have envisioned myself creating a carnival line/band (easy thing) and the charging the same 3 to 4grand but after this convo, i can't cause, i will only be in it for the money and not the design aspect of it etc. But yes, creativity is well needed and well over due and its not hard to do a little design research but hey in there world, sales are good. I think its because, of carnival and the excitement etc that people don't really focus on the design etc but moreso, "oh gosh is tribe all the way" for example and in other reality, like voting along political lines and not looking at the facts. I mention to friends a night about trini carnival becoming like brazil carnival when they asked me about vincy carnival this year. But its true the only artist mas man i see is Brian Macfarlane(hoping 2 volunteer this yr) while the true artistic side of carnival to me is those king and queen costume designs. Also, i have never seen any good costume when it comes to men and that is why, i preferred to see my girl(ex) play mas instead of me.
But until, the people wake up and ask for a change, trini will tie for first with brazil because, in the americas, trini carnival is second behind brazil.
Although, Artistic brian to add to my list, lol.
Glad that you enjoyed, but also took the sentiments to heart, too. The culture is being whittled away by these pseudo designers, and it's really sad. If you're able to get a design internship/volunteer period with Brian MacFarlane, that's a great step. You can also work with non-carnival artisans, like the Blind Institute's bag-makers, just to get a feel for construction. This is the sort of route that more people need to take - good luck!
i REALLY do hope but i will check out the "bag-makers" by the Blind Institute's.