Monday Question Time

Today is Monday so I am once again taking questions for our band leader. The questions that were not answered last week (I think a few went over the allotted 5) will be added to the list this week. Oh and for those who wanted the question on the costume resale answered you can resubmit it but specify exactly which part of the costumes being resold to regional/international Carnivals question you want band leader to answer.

Congratulations to the Cowboys.........

Congratulations to the TRIBE cowboys who won the Victory Charity Challenge yesterday, wining $25,000.00 for the Adult Literacy Association.

The Commercialization of Carnival ....

I recently came upon an article by SOY FORDE on the commercialization of Carnival, it was a good albeit rather long, read so I just pulled out some excerpts that I found very interesting:

Thoughts on T&T's Carnival of Commercialization By: Soy Forde

Carnival in TnT is so special to all ah we, like we need blood in we veins--that’s how we feel about Port-of-Spain--” Destra Garcia.

This is really born from a place of anxiety as well as one of love. I love Carnival but I get increasingly ambivalent about what it is becoming reduced to with each passing year. I’m anxious too about what “people” will say because you know, people get real vex any time you criticize Carnival and it’s commercialization. I guess it’s kind of like hearing Sat Maharaj berate chutney music for the ten millionth time, after a while, people just get exasperated and say, “well yuh doh hadda listen to it nah!”

Which is kind of along the lines of the same thing that people will tell you when you critique Carnival culture. In true Trini fashion, you will hear, “well doh participate nah!” Or something to that effect. But what happens if you really do love Carnival, you know that Lord Kitchener’s “Carnival Baby” is about you; it’s almost like that song pulses in your veins. You cannot let it go--even when it’s over. You love it for its historical context, its social implications, its freeness, its energy. You see how Carnival is really like a kind of “thing” too, throbbing with its own lifeline while simultaneously existing deep within all of us true Carnival babies. You almost can see it too and you can watch something or someone and say, “yuh see dat right there. Now THAT is Carnival.”............................

Speaking of critical thinking........Many people are concerned about the way in which elitist and classist ideals have invaded and almost totally transformed Carnival from what it once was, to the well-heeled money making machine that it is today. Some of us understand this too but it does not stop us from jumping up and having a damn good time (honestly speaking, myself included). I’m not even going to waste too much time on the exorbitant cost for costumes because that would be like beating a dead horse and we’ve all bitched and moaned about that before--AND saved for our down payments simultaneously.


Still, there are those who often cry that progress and change are the true marks of an evolving society. As a result, it seems as though Carnival must undoubtedly adapt because of this growth. Carnival culture today seems almost warped beyond recognition in some sense. This is the Carnival culture that is largely mass produced today, packaged and sold to the world and supported by many of us. This Carnival culture is supported by a slew of online communities who obsess over the ins and outs of the season, bloggers, freshwaters who fly in and out only for the greatest show on earth, locals, many young people, foreigners and assorted other interested enterprises for whom the entire essence of Carnival revolves around: bedazzled boots (of course, only because they’re in style now and not necessarily because they are functional, even though in all likelihood, they very well might be), beautiful bodies, the perceived socio-economic borderline between the frontline and the backline, the extent to which one can be able to match accessories months in advance, among other factors from the mundane to the ridiculous.

The so-called branding of mas bands epitomizes the capitalistic consumer culture that permeates Carnival culture today. People today name drop mas bands like a luxury brand name, like it defines their character, or defines their self-worth. The clique-ish ness of the tight inner circles of these mas band enterprises are often reminiscent of secondary school in-and-out social circles. Some people are obviously delighted to be in the know and others are clearly out. Enough of us want to know to consistently incite speculation and postulations all year round, right into the next season. We want and we want and we want. We covet the exclusivity of special section costumes echoing our own social anxieties and dreams as we prance in the streets for two days. If and until you are seriously tight over some Johnny--this seems to be what matters most. Already, we want to know, what colours? What themes? Who’s in and most importantly, who’s out of this band and why?..........

Mas bands then, arguably mimic our own social prejudices now more than ever before. Carnival has a serious dark side beneath those feathered plumes; though growth can be a beautiful thing, we must be careful that the entire discourse of Carnival doesn’t get reduced to nothingness. On top of all this, the yearly price gouging for essentially a similar if not same product forges on. Mas bands like any good corporate giant gleefully exploit the insatiable need for masqueraders to participate in their successful branding schemes. Kind of reminds me of that David Rudder song, “dis is not de kinda jam where yuh stand up like a moomoo, de riddim go jam you!” And who yuh think is the one getting jam? Real madness going on here.

The ultimate value of one’s Carnival expenditure in dollars and cents begins to trump the cultural one because we’ve begun to value the trappings so much more while the historical and social implications get lost beneath all the glitter. As Trinbagonians, we presume that all of us have had access to and at least exposure to the range of our own cultural artifacts and our own cultural history inside of our islands. So we want to believe and we take this for granted even though this is clearly not always the case. What about less informed souls? Many people out here think that this is what Carnival is all about: superficiality of outward presentations, copious amounts of money to be spent on skimpy costumes. Devoid of any kind of theatre, we wear these temporary flights of fancy disconnected from the past in drunken abandonment wining alongside others who live just like we do. Carnival hasn’t been accessible to all walks of Trinbagonians for a long, long time now.

The full article can be found at caribbeanaxis.com, please read the entire thing. Now, I have my own thoughts on Ms Forde's thoughts, particularly amused by the fact that she thinks online communities and "obsessive" bloggers support the "Carnival Culture". I am guilty as charged, being a Carnival blogger, for starting the anticipation, hype months in advance Also guilty for promoting the "essence" of Carnival to revolve around "bedazzled boots", accessories and Frontline costumes!

It is a pity we all cannot have ONE view on everything in the world, that we are all not interested in having MARSE as theater on the streets in lovely flowing robes of decorated fabric that means something, right? One homogeneous brain when it comes to Carnival because only THEN can we say that we truly LOVE Carnival.


Thoughts???

D.C. Carnival.. MUD!!!

Battle of the Bands...

TRIBE Cowboys vs Elements Apaches vs Island People's Spartans vs Kaotic's Trojans .. this one should be good!

click for large view

VICTORY

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14 exciting teams will be participating in a day of fun sports and novelty

games for 14 charities!

All competing for one grand $25000.00 which will be donated to the charity

for which the team is competing for.

THE WARRIORS WILL BE COMPETING IN THE GAUNTLET!


VICTORY- THE BATTLE BEGINS

THE TEAMS HAVE DRAWN FOR THEIR CHARITY, THEIR TEAM COLOUR AND THEIR TEAM

NAME.


Island People SPARTANS - Trinidad & Tobago Innovative Parenting
COLOUR: TEAL

Black Velvet VIKINGS - The Pointe a Pierre Wild Fowl Trust
COLOUR: PURPLE

Julius Ceasar NINJAS - The Cancer Society of Trinidad & Tobago
COLOUR: RED

Tribe COWBOYS - Adult Literacy Tutors' Association
COLOUR: BURGUNDY

Red 96.7 CARIBS - Trinidad & Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty

to Animals.
COLOUR: LIME GREEN

B.A.R.S. COMMANDOES - Rainbow Rescue
COLOUR: FOREST GREEN

KAOTIC TROJANS - Families in Action
COLOUR: KELLY GREEN.

SCORCH PIRATES - Rebirth House
COLOUR: NAVY BLUE

Unilever KNIGHTS - THE ASSOCIATION IN AID OF THE DEAF
COLOUR: GREY

Elements APACHES - The Caribbean Electronic Law Network
COLOUR: YELLOW

Flow JEDIS - Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge
COLOUR: BABY BLUE

Mc Cann Erickson GLADIATORS - The John Hayes Memorial Kidney Foundation
COLOUR: WHITE

Synergy SAMURAIS - Living Water Community
COLOUR: ROYAL BLUE

Parliamentarian TITANS - CYRIL ROSS
COLOUR: Orange

WEAR YOUR RESPECTIVE COLOURS AND COME OUT TO THE WOODBROOK YOUTH FACILITY

FROM 11AM.
ADMISSION IS FREE SO BRING YOUR WHOLE CREW AND FAMILY!
KID ZONE INCLUSIVE!

For more information check www.triniscene.com

D.C. Carnival Photos...

As those in D.C. and heading to D.C. gear up for a weekend of Taboo, mud and mas here are some photos of two of the popular fetes that have gone so far:

Island in the Sun
























TRIBE Ignite

I cannot tell you the WEEKS of planning for fetes and mud mas I had to endure, have fun all the bloggers and everyone else who will be in D.C. this weekend . Enjoy TABOO tonight and take LOTS of pics!

Many thanks to "J.J." and "Kermit"(Wynah Krew 2008) for the photos.

D Krewe Launches August 16th

Dear D Krewe Masquerader,

We will be launching our 2009 presentation "IERE virgin paradise" on the 16th August 20008 at St. John’s Hall, Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook (next to the Jean Pierre Complex). Further details for the launch will be sent by email to those on our email list, as well as by all-media advertising.

Our main showroom at D Krewe Carnival Studio will be open from 18th August 2008 for registration. Opening hours will be:

*Monday – Thursday
12 noon to 8pm
*Friday – Saturday
2pm to 10pm


Registration will also be available via our website www.dkrewecarnival.com from 18th August 2008.

Distribution will begin on the 9th February 2009 as follows:

*9th February to 16th February 2009
strictly by section
*17th February to 20th February
all sections
*Saturday 21st February
late arriving overseas
masqueraders only

Unclaimed costumes (except for where paid-in-full) will be sold on Sunday 22nd February.

If you are not already on our email list and would like to be, please send us an email at info@dkrewecarnival.com with the subject “new email address”. Joining our email list means that you can be kept up to date on all our happenings without having to depend on the postal service.

Yours sincerely

Roland St. George

I am amazed that D Krewe plans on starting registration the Monday following their Saturday band launch as well as, they already have the distribution dates for costumes!! Iere seems to be a popular theme as it is also a section in Island People's "Heaven on Earth".

Other band launching dates and band presentations are:

July 4th - Evolution - Temptations

July 13th - Kaotic - Life Unleashed

July 19th - Spice - The Missing Ingredient

July 26th - TRIBE - Birds of a Feather

August 1st - Ronnie &Caro - Bakanal

August 16th - Harts - To Be Announced

August 16th - D Krewe- IERE Virgin Paradise

September 7th - Pulse 8 - Hot, Hot, Hot

September 21st - Genesis- To Be Announced

September 24th - Trini Revellers - A Tribute to Trinidad and Tobago

DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED

July - Elements- Casino Royale

August - Island People - Heaven on Earth

August - Wee International - Candy Shop

Brian Mc Farlane - Africa

Power X Four Sneak Peak

Power x Four are having some technical difficulties with their website but I was able to get some photos of what is to come; click on any of the photos for a LARGE view:

FAUNA




SERENITY
(VIP Section comes with
premium package)




RADIANT REEF




HERITAGE




BAJAN PRIDE




SURREAL SUNSET

POWER X FOUR 2008

BARBADOS PRICE LIST

USD$

SECTIONS	NO FOOD PACKAGE	WITH FOOD PACKAGE
SURREAL SUNSET (Orange & Blue)	$216.38	$225.00
FAUNA (Green)	$188.88	$197.50
BAJAN PRIDE (Blue & Gold)	$231.38	$240.00
RADIANT REEF (Purple)	$216.38	$225.00
HERITAGE (Bronze) Lead	$231.38	$240.00
SERENITY (White)	$247.50	$247.50

Heritage & Serenity do not have option of 1 piece costumes!

THE PREMIUM PACKAGE

PREMIUM DRINKS FOR THE ENTIRE DAY
JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL SCOTCH WHISKEY
REMY MARTIN - FINE CHAMPAGNE COGNAC
BAILEYS IRISH CREAM
COCKSPUR VSOR RUM
SMIRNOFF VODKA
WHITE ZINFANDEL WINE
TANQUERAY GIN
ADDITIONAL SURPRISE PREMIUM DRINKS WILL BE SERVED AT SPECIFIC TIMES
DURING THE DAY.

A SEPARATE BAR TRUCK WILL BE PROVIDED.
A light breakfast before going through the stadium

Snacks to be provided at specific times during the day
A hot buffet lunch at the "Party Stand" at the end of the jump in a
totally comfortable atmosphere.