AZ Best Fest

How is it that we define a ritual?  When we think of the word ritual, what is it that most often pops into the mind?  Within our book there is a definition provided: "stylized, highly contextualized, deeply symbolic activities that enable groups to acknowledge, exemplify and/or act out certain traditional ideas, values and beliefs" (Page 95, Living Folklore)  When we think of a ritual most of the time it is thought to be a repeated event at a certain time and place, never changing, but this is not always the case.  Allow an example, the Quinceanera happens only once during a persons lifetime, their sixteenth birthday, and is usually more important to a female rather than the male.  With this in mind thinking about what the AZ Best Fest represents we can see how it is a ritual, the festival being one of celebration for Arizona's 100th birthday of Statehood.  There are some ways in which the festival does not fall into ritual as well.  Although the festival itself is what falls into ritual, some of the events were not.  Take for example the booth that contained the state animals.  This was all factual, now, the concept of state animal, tree, bird, etc., does fall under ritual, giving an animal to represent the population.  Below are pictures of the Cactus Wren (state bird), the Palo Verde tree (state tree), and the Ringtail (state animal) respectively.

The area that I spent the most amount of time at was the military district, which was extremely interesting.  The traditional ideas that were expressed was one of the "wild west" that needed taming, or at least that needed to be watched over.  What was interesting was the beginning of the district discussed the beginning of the military background in the Arizona Territory, which consisted mainly of Calvary that protected settler towns, as well as raids from Native Americans and Mexicans.  Through time it discussed the evolution of these Cavalries into the Arizona 1st Infantry during World War I and World War II as well as how they participated in these wars.  After World War II the Arizona 1st Infantry was assimilated into the regular army and the division was dissolved.  Through the use of text, pictures, and antique vehicles, was this expressed.  Unfortunately the farthest back the vehicles went was World War II.  I would have loved to see some of the earlier artifacts.

The one thing that I was impressed with the Best Fest was the fact that it expressed many identities as well as a single identity.  The single identity it expressed was the people of Arizona, the many identities that it expressed was the many people that make up Arizona, by this meaning Native Americans, Hispanics, and the settlers.  The settlers that came to this area were represented through the Military District, the Hispanics expressed through the Hispanic District, and the Native Americans expressed through the Native American Quarter.  Unfortunately I just looked through the Hispanic District and the Native American Quarter, and spent most of my time in the Military District.


The first example of folklore that I thought was really cool was the World War II vehicles that were used by the Arizona 1st Infantry.  Although not the originals, they were remodeled WWII era vehicles, they were in great condition and very cool to see.  Secondly would have to be the information tent that ran lengthwise down the middle of the Military District.  This had a timeline of everything that had to do with Arizona in a military context.  What I learned from it was that Arizona had its own infantry unit in both World War I and World War II.  The third example of folklore would have to be the 1/100th scale model of the USS Arizona.  This model was actually built in the 1960's, and after time was found by a couple who bought it, when they purchased the model it was in a state of bad decay, and after many years they repaired it and brought it to its former glory.  Everything was perfect on the model, even the deck planking was painted perfectly.  The fourth example would be in front of Whiskey Row there was a folklore band that was singing songs about the early settlers, using country music as the base of their sound, it was actually really good (contrary of what I first thought it would be like), even if you didn't enjoy country music it would have been pleasant to hear!  Next was the Mariachi Band that was playing in the Hispanic District with their music accompanied by the dancers, it was a sight to behold!  The dresses the women were wearing was exquisite!  Very well put together and beautifully executed!

The frame that I thought was present through the Military District was that it glorified Arizona's military force.  I don't mean this in a bad way, more of it put it onto a pedestal, as to show our states past glory, as well as what needs to be lived up to.  Glorifying the past military is what sets it apart from the ordinary day to day life, through the use of stories told by past heroes.