Reisz Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Craziness

Living in Kentucky and never have even visited New Orleans before, Mardi Gras was a whirlwind culture shock and amazing fun. I loved the festivities, the colors, the craze, and of course the carnival-esque parades.

Having a theatre background, I immediately think of the masks used in carnivals and the parades as a sort of "freeing" source. When one uses a mask in training they are stripped of personal background and traumas so that they are free of any restraints. I can see how the same ideology behind the mask is implemented into the Mardi Gras parades. Every Krewe member on the floats wore masks so that they could free themselves of restrictions during the crazy festivities. This especially makes sense because of the restrictive Catholic mandate of following a very strict Lent. People simply want to get a little crazy before cutting back.

However, I think that most everyone can agree that harmless fun is not the only result of the free spirit and hidden faces ascribed to carnival festivities. People monopolize on the event to the point where public indecency, harmful ruthless behavior, and borderline alcoholism is, not only socially acceptable, but encouraged. While the masks and craze of the event can be a great way to release from the restraints of everyday life and personal insecurities, it can also lead to immoral and regrettable decisions. The mask and nature of carnivals then becomes an excuse for poor decisions that some make during this time of the year. While I think it is important to get lost in the fun festivities of the season and escape the sometimes dull repetition in our lives, we need to remember not to completely lose ourselves or hide behind the mask too much. Using the mask as a freeing source can result in a euphoric and healthy release; however, using the mask as an excuse to lose yourself and morals completely can be very self-destructive.

 I think the Joker from Batman is an excellent example of this carnival mentality. The Joker, clearly a trickster character, uses his mask of scars as an excuse for his malicious immoral behavior. The carnival is similar to the jokester character also since it appears harmless but can have very chaotic results. The Joker’s carnival attracts the masses as he promises to throw out cash (kind of like beads during Mardi Gras), which immediately unleashes chaos in the crowds. I saw this same cause-reaction during the Mardi Gras festivities. Although Mardi Gras is definitely a less drastic event, I think it is important to note the similarities so we do not near the same chaotic events that occur in many of Burton’s films.