Politics Behind the Mask: Studying Contemporary Carnivals in Political Perspective, Theoretical and Methodological Suggestions

Abstract

Carnivals are a type of rite of renewal where mask and laughter spur the invention of highly symbolic modes of expression. They offer opportunities for the study of social representations and, since they are both recurring and changing, they constitute a ground where not only social change can be assessed, but where the meanings of social change can be best understood. The first part of this paper reviews and discusses theories of carnival, in particular those related to its relationship to power and social hierarchies. The second part proposes a few methodological suggestions for the study of carnival from a political perspective, emphasizing semiotic analysis and surveys using non-directive methods. Les carnavals constituent un type particulier de rite de renouveau dans lequel le masque et le rire entrainent l'invention de modes d'expression a forte densite symbolique. Les carnavals fournissent ainsi le champ privilegie d'une recherche sur les representations sociales ; parce qu'ils sont a la fois recurrents et changeants, ils offrent la possibilite d'evaluer non seulement les changements sociaux, mais surtout les significations portees par ces changements sociaux. La premiere partie de ce texte presente et discute differentes theories du carnaval, notamment celles qui traitent de ses relations au politique et aux hierarchies sociales. La seconde suggere quelques elements de methode pour etudier les carnavals dans une perspective politique et propose que l'analyse semiotique soit combinee avec des enquetes par entretiens non directifs.

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