CARNIVALESQUE Meaning and
Definition
-
Carnivalesque is an adjective that describes something as resembling or evoking the spirit and characteristics of a carnival. Derived from the noun "carnival," which refers to a festive celebration often associated with amusement parks, parades, and colorful costumes, carnivalesque embodies the exuberance, playfulness, and unrestrained revelry commonly found in such events.
In a broader sense, carnivalesque denotes a literary or artistic style or technique characterized by the inversion of established norms, hierarchical structures, and societal conventions. It often showcases chaos, humor, satire, and the temporary suspension of traditional boundaries and taboos. This concept was famously explored by Russian literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, who argued that carnivalesque elements are transformative, challenging the established order and offering avenues for questioning authority and social norms.
The carnivalesque atmosphere frequently incorporates inversions of social roles, such as the elevation of fools and jesters while simultaneously degrading the powerful and elite. It embraces the grotesque, the absurd, and the surreal, creating an alternative reality that allows for unbridled creativity and imagination. This aesthetic can be observed in various forms of artistic expression, including literature, visual arts, theater, and cinema.
Overall, the term "carnivalesque" encompasses the lively, unorthodox, and irreverent aspects of carnival celebrations while also representing a broader artistic style that challenges societal norms, disrupts hierarchies, and embraces the unconventional.
Common Misspellings for CARNIVALESQUE
- carnivalesqum
- carnivalesqua
- carnivalesqug
- carnivailsque
- c arnivalesque
- ca rnivalesque
- car nivalesque
- carn ivalesque
- carni valesque
- carniv alesque
- carniva lesque
- carnival esque
- carnivale sque
- carnivales que
- carnivalesq ue
- carnivalesqu e
Etymology of CARNIVALESQUE
The word "carnivalesque" originated from the noun "carnival", which can be traced back to the Late Latin word "carnelevarium" or "carnelevamen". "Carnelevarium" is a combination of the Latin words "carne" meaning "flesh" and "levare" meaning "to remove or to raise".
During the Roman Catholic tradition of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and abstinence leading up to Easter, the consumption of meat was forbidden. As a result, people would participate in a festive celebration just before Lent, known as "Carnival". The term "carnival" evolved from the Latin words to describe this celebration as a time when people would indulge in the consumption of meat before the fasting period, "removing the flesh".
"Carnivalesque" is an adjective derived from "carnival".
