Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
145
The Multi-dimensional Nature of Festivals
Although festivals can be described in terms of the main reasons or functions that
lie behind the events, this is not the only way in which they differ from one another
and how they may be interpreted. Unfortunately, most studies of festivals are rather
one-sided. In a methodological sense most focus on the uniqueness character of a
festival, the local particulars that make them distinctive, rather than searching for
the generalities that underlie them, in order to uncover theoretical structures. Yet
there have been attempts made to identify such structures. For example, in terms
of community effects, festivals have been viewed as consolidating collective con-
sciousness (Durkheim
1976
), while others stress that they represent the contestation
of different groups competing for power (Bakthin
1984
). In cultural terms, it has
been noted above that some view modern festivals in essentially negative terms,
as inauthentic events in an historical sense, only loosely related to real traditions;
others see them as re-energizing older local cultures and opportunities. In socio-
economic terms a similar difference of opinion occurs between those who see fes-
tivals as important engines of economic growth and attracting international visitors
to cities in particular (Allen et al.
2005
), while some view them as version of the
older Roman idea to provide 'bread and circuses' to feed and entertain the masses
that might otherwise revolt over their condition. These examples demonstrate that
individual festivals have been interpreted in different ways. But to continue such
polarized views does seem counter-productive, for most festivals contain elements
of all these characteristics, although some may be more important than others in
particular cases. Indeed, as a study of New Orleans argued, festivals, like spectacles
in general, are often conflicted, contradictory and should be seen as multi-faceted
events with multi-dimensional consequences (Gotham
2005
). Yet viewing festivals
in this way poses two key questions that cannot be answered by the study of a
single festival or just a small sample.
If festivals are multi-dimensional, what are the
various dimensions, or sources of variation, by which festivals can be understood
and assessed? What alternative and perhaps opposed consequences can occur
within each dimension?
Figure
14.1
provides an answer to these questions by suggesting that the char-
acter of individual festivals can be summarized in terms of eight major dimensions
of variation. This provides a preliminary multidimensional festival framework for
exploring the nature and impact of festive events in cities and perhaps a way of
theorizing their character, although further research is likely to produce additional
dimensions. In addition, it will be shown that there are possible alternative conse-
quences within most dimensions. The result is that their effects cannot be seen as
being unidirectional; instead festivals produce contested and conflicted results.
14.5.1
Ephemeral Character
The most obvious characteristic of festive events is that they are ephemeral, oc-
cupying only part of time and space in the city. Temporally, they are events outside
