Carnivalization

Carnivalization is a concept in literary theory and cultural studies, most notably developed by Mikhail Bakhtin. It refers to the process of applying the spirit and characteristics of the medieval carnival to other forms of discourse, art, and social life. The carnival was a period of temporary suspension of societal norms, hierarchies, and prohibitions, where the official world was turned upside down. This involved a deliberate inversion of the established order, the celebration of the grotesque body, and the use of laughter, parody, and profanity.

In literature, carnivalization can manifest as a blurring of genres, a mixing of high and low culture, and the subversion of authoritative voices. Characters might engage in dialogue that defies social conventions, and serious themes can be treated with humor or irony. The carnivalesque disrupts established meanings and creates a space for multiple, often contradictory, perspectives to coexist. It emphasizes freedom from established norms and a sense of the provisionality of all social structures and ideologies.

Bakhtin saw the carnival as a fundamentally democratic and liberating force, offering a temporary escape from the constraints of everyday life. While originating in the specific context of medieval festivals, the concept of carnivalization has been applied to analyze various cultural phenomena, including theater, film, and even political discourse, highlighting how elements of playful subversion and the breakdown of authority can reappear in different forms throughout history.