Origins of Bakhtin’s Theory of Carnivalization.

Abstract

This research will shed light here on the early beginnings of the carnival as a public ceremony in which everything turns upside down, and the sources from which Mikhail Bakhtin derives his theory of carnivalization. Bakhtin builds his theory on ancient celebrations which extend to late antiquity. Bakhtin discusses the historical origins of the Roman, Greek, and Egyptian festivals to illustrate that carnival celebrations go back to ancient pagan festivals. The influence of these festivities is immense in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. They were characterized by their popularity and so they were imitated by all people. The importance of the pagan festivities obligated the church to Christianize these celebrations to keep its followers away from these pagan feasts. Carnival celebrations have two faces, the reason which made these feasts as a challenge to authority and even the church. This is because during carnival world life becomes free from all regulations that exist in normal life and so the participants have the chance to reject the faults in society transgressing the laws and established norms. All people were allowed celebrate because it was a festive time which was protected by freedom and equality. In the Renaissance carnival, women were active participants and constituted a threat to the State which appeared in different aspects; social, religious, and political aspects. Bakhtin proves that carnival with its different origins and practices was an image of society which revealed the weaknesses of official life and even the religious cults were subjected to criticisms.