Analyses of art after 1990 in the context of carnivalesque theory

In this thesis, it is argued that whether or not carnivalesque theory may reveal new perspectives in analysis of contemporary art. Carnivalesque theory which proposed by Russian philosopher Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin, build up on the foundation from Francois Rabelais's "Gargantua and Pantagruel" and Medieval Carnivals. Bakhtin has found out the reflections of elements in literature which medieval carnival culture embodies such as anti-authority, overthrow of hierarchy, extremism (especially food, sexuality and violence), masks and humor. He defines the manifestation of these elements in literature as carnivalization of the body and carnivalesque. In this research, it has been determined that the carnivalesque theory, which provides the opportunity to read a wide range of works in the field of literature, also has reflections in the field of visual arts. The findings obtained in the examinations on the works of art discussed after 1990 were analyzed and evaluated comparatively in the context of carnivalesque theory. In line with the determinations made as a result of the research, it is thought that the carnivalesque theory will provide a new opening to the work analysis approaches in the field of visual arts.