A nice cup of rabies

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March 30th, 2008
Sunday, 01:42 PM

♫: Genesis's Genesis : That's All

Boi-Bumbá

stinkygoat led me to some information on the interestingly-resonant Amazonian Ox Dance festival. The way its themes intertwine with other threads I've seen in widely diverse mythologies, new and old, struck me as interesting enough to play with. So I fired up Illustrator and whipped this out.

The white/red one is Garantido - the Secure Ox, while the black/blue one is Caprichoso - the Capricious Ox. They're two parallel implementations of the same death-and-rebirth tale. Across Brazil, there is a tradition of having multiple groups of "Ox Dancers" who do this, with many different oxen going through this story; in the town of Parintins, the myriad small Ox groups shook out to two large ones, who compete with lavish, elaborate pageants.

Find your own resonances with white/red/heart/security vs. black/blue/star/capriciousness.

Tags: art

6 comments ◉ Leave a comment

Eu te amo
Minha estrela Caprichoso

}:-D

◉xyzzysqrl: Bubbles
Sunday, 08:54 PM
March 30th, 2008 Reply to this / Parent / Thread
That game is responsible for me learning all KINDS of awesome words, like blumencraft and now caprichoso.
Have I mentioned that you and the ox are made of pure Awesomeanium alloy?
◉shatterstripes
Monday, 03:22 AM
March 31st, 2008 Reply to this / Parent / Thread
BE THEE FOR LAW, OR BE THEE FOR CHAOS?
Well, I guess that level answers that question!

Well, to be fair, there is this level in the game as well:

I felt I had to mention the other just for the sake of balance. However there are also levels called "BOI DA ESTRELA" and "ESTRELA AZUL" which I hope will indicate where my affections truly lie };-).

◉shatterstripes
Monday, 02:39 PM
March 31st, 2008 Reply to this / Parent / Thread
Because what are stellar dreams without the meat to hold the dreams, after all? For now.

That kicks so much ass! I had no idea that was even out there, and just the association of the oxen with rival groups of capoeiristas fighting is a fascinating parallel to lion-dancing and rival gong fu schools. This is great stuff!