Somewhere over the Rainbow: Investigating Festival Decorations in the LGBT50 Celebration of Hull, UK City of Culture 2017

Barbara Grabher

doi:10.33823/jfs.2021.3.1.86

Somewhere over the Rainbow: Investigating Festival Decorations in the LGBT50 Celebration of Hull, UK City of Culture 2017

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Festival decorations are crucial indicators of the carnivalesque atmosphere of events as they capture celebratory experiences in tangible forms. Due to the strong presence of rainbow colors, LGBT+ Pride events provide fertile grounds for the discussion of decorative materials. While the acclaimed symbol of the rainbow is an expression of the LGBT+ community and their campaign for equality, the color combination is contested due to commercializing and appropriating forces. Next to altered color compositions highlighting particular identities and communities within the LGBT+ spectrum, explorations for alternative decorative patterns and visual expressions inform contemporary celebrations of equality during LGBT+ Pride events. In this article, I begin with a conceptual discussion of the carnivalesque notion, its inherent contradictions of subversion and discipline, and their expression in the form of decorative materials. Through an ethnographic study of the commemorative LGBT50 celebration in the context of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, I argue that alternative decorative approaches not only aesthetically influence the event but enable the reclaiming of the subversive atmospheres produced by the carnivalesque environment. Countering disciplining mechanisms of brand-like rainbow strategies, I outline how artistic practices negotiate innovative approaches to frame LGBT+ communities, identities, and celebrations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	200-214
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal for Festive Studies
Volume	3
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.33823/jfs.2021.3.1.86
Publication status	Published - 4 Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 675378. Thanks to Mariëlle Smith, Catherine Vulliamy, and Jill Howitt for their language editing, proofreading, and critical feedback. My gratitude goes to all research participants, who continuously support the investigation as they challenge, reflect on, and discuss the developments in and of their city with me.

Keywords

Material culture
Carnivalesque
Critical event studies
LGBT Pride
Artistic interventions

Access to Document

10.33823/jfs.2021.3.1.86Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Somewhere over the Rainbow: Investigating Festival Decorations in the LGBT50 Celebration of Hull, UK City of Culture 2017",

abstract = "Festival decorations are crucial indicators of the carnivalesque atmosphere of events as they capture celebratory experiences in tangible forms. Due to the strong presence of rainbow colors, LGBT+ Pride events provide fertile grounds for the discussion of decorative materials. While the acclaimed symbol of the rainbow is an expression of the LGBT+ community and their campaign for equality, the color combination is contested due to commercializing and appropriating forces. Next to altered color compositions highlighting particular identities and communities within the LGBT+ spectrum, explorations for alternative decorative patterns and visual expressions inform contemporary celebrations of equality during LGBT+ Pride events. In this article, I begin with a conceptual discussion of the carnivalesque notion, its inherent contradictions of subversion and discipline, and their expression in the form of decorative materials. Through an ethnographic study of the commemorative LGBT50 celebration in the context of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, I argue that alternative decorative approaches not only aesthetically influence the event but enable the reclaiming of the subversive atmospheres produced by the carnivalesque environment. Countering disciplining mechanisms of brand-like rainbow strategies, I outline how artistic practices negotiate innovative approaches to frame LGBT+ communities, identities, and celebrations.",

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AB - Festival decorations are crucial indicators of the carnivalesque atmosphere of events as they capture celebratory experiences in tangible forms. Due to the strong presence of rainbow colors, LGBT+ Pride events provide fertile grounds for the discussion of decorative materials. While the acclaimed symbol of the rainbow is an expression of the LGBT+ community and their campaign for equality, the color combination is contested due to commercializing and appropriating forces. Next to altered color compositions highlighting particular identities and communities within the LGBT+ spectrum, explorations for alternative decorative patterns and visual expressions inform contemporary celebrations of equality during LGBT+ Pride events. In this article, I begin with a conceptual discussion of the carnivalesque notion, its inherent contradictions of subversion and discipline, and their expression in the form of decorative materials. Through an ethnographic study of the commemorative LGBT50 celebration in the context of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, I argue that alternative decorative approaches not only aesthetically influence the event but enable the reclaiming of the subversive atmospheres produced by the carnivalesque environment. Countering disciplining mechanisms of brand-like rainbow strategies, I outline how artistic practices negotiate innovative approaches to frame LGBT+ communities, identities, and celebrations.

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Somewhere over the Rainbow: Investigating Festival Decorations in the LGBT50 Celebration of Hull, UK City of Culture 2017

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Cite this