Europe meets Africa through costume in the Uruguayan carnival of Montevideo.
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School of Arts, Design and Architecture |
Master's thesis
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Date
2021
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Lavastustaiteen maisteriohjelma
Language
en
Pages
97+1
Series
Abstract
The present research is a Master thesis focused on the study of the costume designs for Candombe, an annual carnival celebration in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. The focus will be on the signature parade called Llamadas, where the aesthetic aspects are fundamental but at the same time controversial, which is visible especially in the costume design. This research starts with the first documentations written by European travellers in the early years of the 19th century, and will end with an analysis of contemporary comparsas’ costumes. The costume is a tool that helps the Candombe to narrate and understand the history of Montevideo in colonial times and its contemporary culture. In this particular case, memory plays a significant role. The parade is part of an alternative narrative about the history of Afro-Uruguayans, and the costume is a useful and necessary tool for it. Candombe is a celebration of the segregated minority of the African slaves who came to Uruguay in colonial times. Being Uruguay a country with an important history of Western migratory waves, the visual aspects of candombe have been poorly studied by local scholars. Candombe is seen as part of the ‘low culture’. This research work is motivated by the challenge of bringing the candombe’s costume design to the academic world. Through qualitative interviews and thoroughly written and visual analysis, the researcher, who has a strong connection to this celebration, investigates the power costume designs have as narrative and informative tools for the oppressed people of Montevideo in colonial times, through rituals such as the Llamadas parade. While trying to reach the origins of candombe garments, this research encounters a more complex mixture of cultures and erased elements that have shaped the way history is being told. The appearance of garments with multicultural origins, such as the Spanish Flamenco dress, the African headpiece and the presence of feathers, inspired by the Brazilian carnival, are creating the essence of Candombe and reflecting on the rich cultural life of an entire city. This research work concludes intending to inspire other researchers to keep investigating the candombe costumes. The present work discovers the importance of costume design in cultural events and traditions to understand and enhance the performing and portrayed society.Description
Supervisor
Pantouvaki, SofiaThesis advisor
Cremona, Vicki-AnnKeywords
costume design, Candombe, carnival, Uruguay, African heritage, culture