Melbourne Cup Carnival: Tracing Ancient Scholarly Theories in Contemporary Carnivals

This essay discusses the Melbourne Cup Carnival and how it traces ancient scholarly theories in contemporary carnivals. It covers the theories of Bakhtin, Turner, and Hobsbawm and how they apply to the carnival. The essay also recommends new cultural shows to celebrate the history of carnivals.

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The term carnival brings to our mind the sport of joy, pleasure, enjoyment, and
merrymaking. The term carnival has a Greek origin and was mainly prevalent in the western
culture. It usually takes place before the onset of the liturgical season of Lent. However, these
concepts of carnivals have undergone many transitions because of the scholarly theories that
have been forwarded by many of the theorists. To name some, there are Bakhtin, Victor Turner,
and Hobsbawm. There are so many festivals that take place in the modern day society. One
among them is the Melbourne Cup Carnival. This essay will discuss that though there are many
changes in the contemporary carnivals still one can find traces of the ancient scholarly theories
within them.
In the first instance, this essay will be describing the three different theories that have been given
by the three scholars named above.
Turner et al (2017) has argued that the carnivals can be studied in the form of new
cultures and traditions. This is beacuse much of the idea of carnivals have changed in the modern
days. Victor Turner has invented the concept of liminality and communitas. He recognized
festivals as something that removes the individuals from their own identity and position that they
usually occupy within their society (Turner et al. 2017). This is a symbolic removal of the
individuals from their own social identical positions. Thus it is a time or a phase in which the
individuals are in an in-between stage where they are trying to interact with one another and get
rid of the social differences or the racial discriminations amongst them. This liminality gives rise
to the concept of communitas. This is a phase where the individuals are in a form of structureless
society. In other words, there is no hegemonic rule that dominates the individuals and they are in
a structure-less and independent society. They are all equal and independent. This concept of

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communitas and liminality brings about a society built on the principles of equality and
solidarity.
Bakhtin however had a different argument as far as the method of carnivals is concerned.
Bakhtin (1994) argued that, it was a time that made the dilution of the gap between the rich and
poor (Bekker 2018). It is a time when the rich and the lower sections of the society join each
other in the act of merrymaking. It is a time when people can imitate each other, mock each other
and even rebel against each other. However, Bakhtin developed this concept during his time
when there was a huge fear of the Stalinism. So he wanted to develop this concept where the
dominated people can actually act out their desires and the pain that they suffer through (Cohen
2017). The stress is on the concept of THE PEOPLE, which meant that it was a time for the
people. It is during this time that these people can feely act out the day to day happenings of their
lives. It was an attempt to blur the line between the performers and the viewers. In other words,
each and everyone who is a part of that event takes equally and there are actually no such set
rules or laws that people have to follow.
On the other hand, Hobsbawm, E., (2015) has argued that in the modern times carnivals
are largely being influenced by the new invented traditions. The final and the third concept is
that of invented tradition by Eric Hobsbawm. He is of the opinion that in the contemporary
society many of the traditions have come into play. These new traditions help in connecting
people to each other. They are instrumental in joining these people to the territories irrespective
of their socio-cultural or socio-political differences. The newly invented traditions help to create
a feeling of unity and cohesion among people. Secondly, they help in putting a limit on the social
institutions. Thirdly it gives the independence to all the people to invent their own styles,

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expressions, conventions through which they can express themselves to the rest of the world
communities (Thorvaldsen et al 2018).
As was prevalent in the ancient concept of carnivals that it is a time when the local and
the higher class people meet and interact with another forgetting all their differences. One can
see the same in this event as well. There is he attempts to satisfy then charitable means as well.
(Winter 2017).
It is basically the am attempt of celebrating the abnormal or the things that are otherwise
considered to be abnormal and queer. Even in the carnival definition or the theory that was
developed by Bakhtin, emphasized this fact. This is because on those days people in general and
the women, in particular, wanted to hide that what was insignificant in their body. In other
words, they used to be ashamed of those parts of their body that were condemned by the society
or the hegemonic powers of the society. However, this carnival gave a freedom to all the people
irrespective of their grotesqueness. It was basically an attempt to celebrate the SELF or the
BODY. This was basically an attempt through which the common people could mock against
the power of capitalism or the power of hierarchy (Capstick and Chatwin 2016).
It can be arguable said that Turner (1969) idea of theory of liminality and commuitas in
applicable to MCC to some extent. It is a festival where people can interact with one another
irrespective of their social differences and their racial differences as well. This carnival is for all
and people from each and every part of the world can come and be a part of the society. It is also
a festival that gives enough space to form a human bond with one another (Thomassen 2016).
There is no imposition of any strict code of conduct on the individuals. So, it can be said that

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MCC to some extent can be studied under the light of Turner’s theory of liminality and
commuitas.
The idea of new invented tradition by Hobswabm seems to be apt for this festival because
of there a large number of new traditions and ideas that have been added. These ideas help in
bringing people closer to one another (Cornips and De Rooij 2015). It also opens a very wide
platform where people can develop their own expressions, rules, and regulations that would help
them to demonstrate themselves in front of the entire world. The MCC has also brought within
itself a large number of events that are having a touch of the ancient concepts along with aspects
of modernism.
This same concept is kept in mind in this Melbourne Cup Carnival as well. This is
because horse racing is one of the major attractions of this carnival, thousands of audiences
gather each and every year to watch this racing shows and be a part of the auspicious moment of
seeing the horsemen crossing the finishing line. There is a huge excitement that is present within
each and every audience. There is this natural tendency within almost all the viewers to be a part
of this event (Lee 2016). There is also a media coverage that is given to these events. Media
coverage is one of the basic and common parts of the carnivals that take place in this modern
contemporary society.
LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP DAY is one such horse riding show that is one of the list
essential parts of this Melbourne Cup Carnival. It is one of the very compulsory things that is
kept in the TO Do list of all the people who come to this carnival. There is also a touch of the
tradition and the customs that are maintained in this Melbourne Cup carnival. Cross-dressing was
also one of the most important aspects of the ancient carnivals. It was a time when people could

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actually mock or challenge the taboos of the society through their bold mockeries or their
performances. This tradition is also followed in the contemporary carnivals like the Melbourne
Cup Carnival. Both men and women have the freedom of wearing any fashion styles that they
like and show their grace and their style in their own possible way (Cohen 2017).
A good exam pole is that of the AAMI Victoria Derby Day. This is a beautiful amalgamation of
then grace and the traditions as well.
As argued by Turner et al (2017) rituals and customs play a very essential role in any
carnivals. This is because the very origin of the concept of carnivals is rooted in culture and
customs. Customs is always a very complicated, rigid and yet a symbolic and deep concept that
is very close to people. Culture and tradition were always a very important part and parcel of the
events and the carnivals (Bal et al. 2016). Community rodeo is one of the very important cultural
aspects that are largely dominant in the western countries and particularly in the United States.
There are two most important characteristic features of this custom. The first is the objective of
bringing people together where they can talk and interact with one another. This is, mainly done
through the means of eating, dancing, singing and, merrymaking. Barbeque is one of the
important tools to obtain this ritual. The next or the second objective is to bring the people
together as the audiences for a performance. In other words, there will be a mix and match of
eating, merrymaking and also some very significant activities.
As per the opinion of Shalinsky (1985), it can be argued that the same is also true in case
of the MELBOURNE Cup festival. A huge range of food is available that people can enjoy while
interacting with one another. There are some very well known restaurants like the Panorama
restaurant, then Skyline restaurant and others that bring the people together where they can eat

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and drink together and raise a toast to their happy and delightful moment. It is one of the very
Elite games where the man and the women participants dress in the most beautiful and the
elegant dresses. There is also the hosting of the Myer Fashion competition that is conducted on
the fields for both the men and the women (Toogood 2015).
As far as the second objective of the bringing together the people is concerned it is
needless to say that the races are one of the major performances that people come to watch in this
carnival. So, it is seen that even in the modern day fest and carnivals, one can find the traces of
the ancient models of carnivals. One of the events that are conducted during this carnival is the
Stakes Day event. This is a very good opportunity for bringing the family and the children
together. It is one of the very great opportunities that are given by the carnival.
They also make sure to provide natural energy to the local residents’ so that they can lead
a good and organized lifestyle. SmilePower is an initiative taken by them to provide clean and
fresh energy in Tasmania. They also try to communicate with all their members, investors and
the patrons through newsletters, racebooks, and all other such media (Emery 2017). So, it is
understandable that MCC follows the ancient vibes of carnivals but in a new light. They make
sure that they are being successful in inventing some new and interesting traditions (like
Hobswabm’s concept of invented traditions) to express themselves to the world. They take a
modern approach in all their endeavours.
Bakhtin's idea of carnival is applicable in the overall construction of the MCC as it helps
in blurring the line between the differences among people that are usually created by the society.
People can come and interact with one another. The importance is given to the intermingling of
people coming from all class, colors, and social backgrounds. However, there is no such concept

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of grotesqueness in this festival. As it is a very modern festival it has many new events like
fashion shows, display of very well-known fashion brands, elite horse ridings, and others. So,
there is actually no such concept of fear or horror the feeling of grotesqueness within it.
So, it can be concluded that the Melbourne Cup Carnival can be studied in the light of all
the three concepts of carnivals that have been discussed in this easy. However, Hobsbawm
(2010) the idea of invented tradition by Hobswamb seems arguably the best and the apt idea for
MCC, because there are a large number of new traditions that have been invented. MCC is
sticking to the ancient concept of horse ridings, dressing, and merrymaking with food and drinks
but in the shade of modern version. They are also involving many well-known fashion brands in
their show as well. This is indeed a very modern approach. They also follow a certain way in
which the men and women stand on the race grounds dressed in their black and white dresses
respectively. All together they form a certain combination of ancient and modern aspects of the
carnival. This helps MCC to express itself in a very unique way to the outside communities of
the world.
Recommendation
MCC is already doing a very good job by involving many of the customs that were
prevalent in the early concept of carnival. They are celebrating an occasion for all the people
irrespective of their class, creed, social status and their financial status. MCC must be conducting
some new firms cultural shows that will talk about the history of carnivals and will particularly
show the deep traditional aspects that are involved. They can conduct some light and sound show

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here they will be displaying the ancient pictures of carnivals so that it can be easier for the
audiences to relate with..

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References
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