This is SO ABSURD!!! If you grew up in the SIXTIES then you seem to think that your thoughts and expectations and cultural experience represent THE PAN TRADITION and THE CARNIVAL TRADITION of TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO from the FIRST CARNIVAL to NOW!!!
If you grew up in the EIGHTIES or NINETIES or in the 21st Century -- your life experience is NULL AND VOID and you should be deferring to those who grew up in the SIXTIES.
Because the only REAL TRINIDAD CARNIVAL that ever had VALUE was when PAN WAS BEING PUSHED ON THE ROAD in the SIXTIES and SEVENTIES.
Allyuh redefining EGOCENTRISM and CULTURAL FIXATION, overlooking the 24-hour truth that the WORLD KEEPS SPINNING into NEW TRADITIONS every day!!!
Replies
Carnival is no longer a "spectacle". It's no longer spectator oriented. It's is now participant driven. This can be proven by the fact that there are at least 95% LESS spectator seating and viewing space/stands than in the 60s and early 70s.
What is so paradoxical is that participation in carnival has risen BUT NOT in steelbands, the Road March is no longer determined or predictable from the steelbands anymore.
The Tourist Board even sell carnival as participation, about playing mas. Nothing about playing mas in a steelband or jumping up in a steelband on Carnival Monday or Tuesday. The only major footing that the steelbands hold in Carnival is Panorama, without it, the steelbands will be a non issue at carnival except for clusters or Jam sessions in certain communities on carnival days.. A RESURGENCE IS NEEDED.n.n
yarbey, we have to keep "jammin" them about the lack of steelband in carnival, I have suggested we start off with 8-9 hours Carnival Monday Afternoon with a bomb competition, do that for a few years and see how it goes.
One way to put a change is to have a full school competition where the pan, mas and calypso would go towards the overall results and the mas and steelbands of the schools would be one combined category. I believe that is one of the things which will bring about a change and greater community involvement.
I'll make sure that this conversation is always on the front burner. THERE IS NO WHERE FOR PAN TO GO IN THE MECCA BUT BACK ON THE ROAD.
Randi, as long as there is a Carnival in T&T there should always be a place for the Steelband, as they say "talk done"
It will be total disrespect to the early pan men if the Steelband is not developed to it's full potential. Their vision was not to have people SIT and listen to steelband but jump-up and play mas.
Cecil: We have to talk GREGORY LINDSAY into putting PAN BACK ON THE ROAD FOR CARNIVAL on his agenda when he takes over. They could start with about three bands one year and then add another two the next year until they come up to full strength. But I am sure that the LOCALS are seeing that idea differently from the EXPATS. However, it never hurts to HAVE THE CONVERSATION!!!
Claude
The fact that we were born when we were and it was one of the most interesting times as far as creating mas costumes were concerned and steelbands were advancing rapidly in their repertoire of all kinds of music. Creativity was KING in those days.
Modern times are good but there are far too many diversions. People can't concentrate for long periods nowadays. Yes we have many artistic trinbagonians, yes we are still very talented. But the world's our oyster and for those of us who are slowing down, our youth is still very much the nostalgic point in our lives when things were more simple. We do not look upon it as a right, Just a point in time the young ones can refer to should they wish to gain knowledge.
The internet has so much to offer now, knowledge is everything. It makes me laugh when I hear youngsters say "that was before my time". Today nothing could be further from the truth. You can look anything up and provided you're not the gullible type that believes everything you can learn about most things.
The fact that the young may not appreciate it now, they will in time.
I'm blessed to be born in 1949, the 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s all had lots going on. but it did not stop me researching what happened before.
Life is a school/college/university. Learning never stops.
Randi
yes the 60's weree the best dayys