Wacken and Carnival...
Singlehandedly, one of the few experiences and festivities that occur today which can be considered more or less living up to Bakhtin's definition of Carnival, is the rock/metal concert, particularly the annual festivals that happen all over the world. Certainly, from my own personal experience and interest, I have seen this definition hold true. Thousands of people of the same subculture gather from all across the globe to celebrate, let loose, express themselves and interact with like-minded individuals. For those unfamiliar with what I am discussing, think of the first Woodstock festival held in 1969. I wish to shed some light on and relate this notion of Carnival to one of the more popular annual Metal festivals that has been held now for nearly two decades: Wacken Open Air.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uZjNhF-HPsE
Named after the German town at which it is annually held, Wacken is undoubtedly the biggest heavy metal festival in Europe. Tens of thousands unite and partake in ritualistic acts such as moshing, chanting in unison, singing and singing along, camping, shopping, meeting new friends or simply drinking alcohol. The local community/town is invaded for three days and the cyclical schedule becomes halted, many laws are suspended and become more lenient. The town is transformed and even the citizens, much like the fans who visit, become participants in the festivity, interacting with the newcomers. Everyone in this case, be it townsfolk, visitors, or the artist performing themselves, is an active participant, a key characteristic within Carnival. Therefore, two lives are led by this people, the daily life and that of Carnival and these different lives are separated by temporal boundaries, in this case, the three days alloted for the concert. When the carnival is over, people return to their daily, mundane cyclical lives.
People sing along and interact from the field to the stage, connection is established and the feeling that emits from within is indescribable. You've never met these people in your life, yet you feel the friendliness and common bond. Carnival unifies and the town/concert field acts as the main arena for interaction. The global then indeed flows to the local (fans arriving from around the world) and the local too becomes global ( the renowned Wacken festival), a key point to bear in mind when I post regarding Globe and Community.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uZjNhF-HPsE
Named after the German town at which it is annually held, Wacken is undoubtedly the biggest heavy metal festival in Europe. Tens of thousands unite and partake in ritualistic acts such as moshing, chanting in unison, singing and singing along, camping, shopping, meeting new friends or simply drinking alcohol. The local community/town is invaded for three days and the cyclical schedule becomes halted, many laws are suspended and become more lenient. The town is transformed and even the citizens, much like the fans who visit, become participants in the festivity, interacting with the newcomers. Everyone in this case, be it townsfolk, visitors, or the artist performing themselves, is an active participant, a key characteristic within Carnival. Therefore, two lives are led by this people, the daily life and that of Carnival and these different lives are separated by temporal boundaries, in this case, the three days alloted for the concert. When the carnival is over, people return to their daily, mundane cyclical lives.
People sing along and interact from the field to the stage, connection is established and the feeling that emits from within is indescribable. You've never met these people in your life, yet you feel the friendliness and common bond. Carnival unifies and the town/concert field acts as the main arena for interaction. The global then indeed flows to the local (fans arriving from around the world) and the local too becomes global ( the renowned Wacken festival), a key point to bear in mind when I post regarding Globe and Community.