Carnivals: worlds within worlds, reflections and realisations of paradoxical explosion

This thesis examines the nature of Carnival in relation to power and sexuality, two important aspects of the celebration which are ritually inverted during Carnival. I shall be considering Carnival from variety of historical and cultural contexts. I shall first study the nature of inversion in the work of Turner. The anthropologist's examination of the nature of inversion will be complemented by Foucault's work on sexuality, followed by a personal interpretation drawn particularly from the theoretical views offered by the two authors, a synthetic approach which attempts to explore the structure/antistructure nature of Carnival in relation to the eroticism it seems to generate, and which pervades it throughout history up to today. A comparative analysis of Carnival reveals structural features. My thesis considers that such a structural method can provide insights and also limitations. The historical dynamic of Carnival and the performative aspects of the celebration are glossed over by such an analysis. I am aware of this. Nevertheless, it is through a structural analysis that can be revealed what features carnivals have in common and this is essential, as the fundamental problem I am considering is to try and comprehend how and why sexuality and power are embodied so strongly in Carnival