Design and aesthetics are essential artistic elements of carnival arts globally. This study critically explores the roles that design and aesthetics play in the execution of the FUOYE Theatre and Media Arts 2025 carnival of plays, examining carnival arts beyond the planning and performance stages. It highlights the importance of design and aesthetics embedded in costumes, makeup, and float designs. Using a qualitative participatory observation method, the study employs an autoethnographic qualitative research approach and Mikhail Bakhtin’s carnival theory as the theoretical framework. The study reveals that design and aesthetics in carnival arts not only showcase artistic beauty but also enhance carnival spectacles, audience engagement, and in-depth meaning creation. This research emphasizes the importance of aesthetically considered design as a crucial element in carnival arts, whereby meaning is conveyed beyond performance and stimulates audience engagement and appreciation. The findings contribute to an in-depth understanding of how design and aesthetics operate in carnival arts and how they can enrich cultural experiences.
Design, Aesthetics, Carnival Arts, FUOYE, Carnival of Plays
