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Costumes and subjects that have been popular for years are increasingly being criticized. The “Rundschau” up close.
Schnitzelbank evening in Chur. A popular topic: the debate about cultural appropriation. «Ar Fasnacht you mustn’t dress up as Winnetou in the future. The woke-moving, that does separate spirits.» Next: «I am directly affected by two. We’re about to hit the pedestal by Goscht. I siged culturally and culinary gseh jo kei Pizokel.»
What makes the audience laugh, gives the “Pizokel Kligga” headaches off the stage. The Schnitzelbänkler are unsure about what else to say and what not to say. “If you’re not allowed to say anything anymore, it will eventually become difficult to make a Schnitzelbank,” says Hubi Pazeller from “Pizokel Kligga” to the “Rundschau”.
If you’re not allowed to say anything anymore, it will eventually become difficult to make a Schnitzelbank.
Nonetheless, the duo admit to having written lyrics in the past that they wouldn’t do today. Like this one: «Makumbo is now Swiss. He came as an asylum seeker. Today he is well known to the police as a dealer.” This problematic text could be found on the event’s website until recently.
Now the organizers have reacted and removed it from the website. They now want to check all the other verses – including for racism.
A fine line
Basel Carnival Hall. It is painted, tinkered and built for the Cortège – the upcoming move. The Basel Fasnacht: known for its political subjects is a World Heritage Site. You don’t get this status if you don’t behave in an exclusively politically correct manner, according to Peter Gerspacher, Spezi-Clique. Nevertheless: “Our task at the carnival is also to be critical and to hold up a mirror to certain people with our subjects,” says Gerspacher.
Our task at the carnival is also to be critical and to hold up a mirror to certain people with our subjects.
How critical, there is disagreement in the wagon assembly hall. “I think you can go far, but the ridge you walk is narrow,” says Tobias Fasel, Carnival Society Olympia. “I think if you attack a certain group or a minority, that’s basically bad.”
“No bad intentions”
Colorful costumes and densely packed crowds of people in the baroque old town: a carnival state of emergency in Solothurn. Violence and disrespect is the end for most. Winnetou or Inuit costumes, on the other hand, are usually unproblematic. “You don’t offend these people when you dress up as an Indian,” said a man with a mullet.
You don’t offend these people by dressing up as an Indian.
“It’s not about discrimination or cultural appropriation,” says one witch. Carnival is about having fun, dressing up and having a good time. “If you’re not traveling with bad intentions, I don’t see a problem,” said a carnival participant wearing feather jewelry.
“Great costumes should have their place at carnival”
The United Carnival Society in Solothurn (UNO) checks the submissions for each parade. The fact that a group is taking part disguised as Inuit this year doesn’t bother Ober Ober Patrick Zimmerman, head of the UNO. “Those are great costumes. That should have a place at the carnival.”
The superior of the group concerned is now skeptical: “As superior, I found it a bit difficult to pull this off,” says Barbara Räz. The topic arose before Corona, a retreat was hardly feasible for financial reasons.
For the time being, the UN does not want to restrict the choice of topics, explains Zimmermann. “The discussion is not yet over,” says the Ober Ober. If there are further developments in the debate, one is open to taking measures.