WST Global News Division

GSMN News

Bookmark and Share

Symposium to Examine Carnival’s Creative and Commercial Inputs

Jouvert in Brooklyn

Brooklyn, New York, USA - Right on the heels of this year’s pre-Lenten Carnival celebrations, a symposium will address the question of the Trinidad and Tobago masquerade’s traditional creativity and what presence it commands in the highly commercialized 21st century look of the festival today. Sharing the Carnival Space: Creative Endeavor and Open-Ended Commercialism is a presentation of the Trinidad & Tobago Folk Arts Institute in conjunction with the School of Professional and Community Development of Medgar Evers College, CUNY. It will be held Thursday evening, March 24 in Mary Pinkett Lecture Hall on the Medgar Evers College campus, from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.

Les Slater, chair of the Folk Arts Institute, said four presenters are scheduled for the symposium: Prof. Lawrence Waldron, professor of art history at St. John’s University in Queens, NY; Patrick Raymond, a former section producer for acclaimed Carnival band designer Peter Minshall in the 1980s; Prof. Dale Byam, professor of performance studies at Brooklyn College; and Michael Manswell, director of the Something Positive dance company..

As the numerical strength of some masquerade bands has increased enormously, concern has been voiced by Carnival aficionados, masquerade veterans and others about the rapid latter-day advance of commercial influences in the festival, to the point of now dominating the masquerade spectacle. Whether this trend portends practically a snuffing out, in the near future, of many of the traditions that characterized the Carnival of yesteryear, is undoubtedly something pondered by many long-time Carnival watchers.

The symposium’s designated presenters will be making contributions focused on this very topical issue surrounding the Carnival. Professor Waldron brings to the forum the perspective of an art historian who, being native to Trinidad and Tobago, is no stranger to the traditional forms and practices that were pillars of the country’s internationally renowned Carnival model. Patrick Raymond, as a section producer for some of Minshall’s presentations, knew first-hand of the award-winning designer’s creations reflecting a strong resistance to the “less is better” style of costuming fancied by a number of other band leaders.

The March 24 symposium is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Folk Arts Institute and the School of Professional & Community Development at Medgar Evers College. The Mary Pinkett Lecture Hall is Room S122 at 1637 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn (between Carroll & Crown Streets).

Admission to the symposium is free and it is open to the public. The telephone numbers for further information are: 718-252-6161 and 718-804-8815.

 

 

Leave a comment in the WST forum  


Share on Facebook

Follow PanOnTheNet on...

 
Visit When Steel Talks

 

   
Google Enter your search terms Submit search form
 
Web www.panonthenet.com

©2010  When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved

www.Panonthenet.com



Home  * Site Search  * Headlines  * Events Pan Global * Message Board * Guest Book * Pan News * Pan Radio * Pan New York * About Us  Contact

 

Search for Anything Steelpan Music Related
Google