Cultural Diversity and Ephemeral Arts
The study of ephemeral arts provides very interesting pathways for the understanding of diversity. These arts are unique for several reasons. The study and celebration of time based culture links the student to communities, how their traditions relating to common events - birthdays, childhood, coming of age, weddings, childbearing, becoming old, buying a house and even the act of dying reflects different beliefs and values.
The celebration of major events in the religious and economic calendar further inspires community artists and lay members of the community to use various forms of expression in order to communicate their messages. They may also mix different artforms - music, dance and drama to create cultural entertainment for their audiences. The celebrations may be further enhanced with the making of special crafts and decorations that are connected with the events. In other cases masks and special cultural gifts such as jewellery and body decorations are also made and handed out to selected people in the audience to complete the interpretation and enjoyment of the event.
The main outcome of this process of study is that communities have more in common than they are different. If this was always true, the study of ephemeral arts would be quite narrow and basic! What makes the examination of ephemeral arts interesting is how some programmes, events and community functions can become 'distinctive' either because of the visual images created by the artists or how special meanings may be attached to the events.
Where cultures grow and develop in response to other cultures and the environment, there is a need to promote diversity.
