Hi-Striker

The Hi-Striker project grew out of my 24/25 sabbatical research in Mallorca, where I was studying traditional festivals and the cultural significance of cured pork. My home town of Chicago has its own history with meatpacking, along with some modern traditions like eating hotdogs at the ballpark (no ketchup allowed).

Unlike European carnival traditions, which tend to mark important cultural events, American carnivals focus on entertainment and profit. Both models, however, operate with the understanding that big groups only show up if you make things engaging. During the festival of San Antoni, for example, the saint's temptation is commemorated with cavorting demons, massive bonfires, and a communal barbecue. You may find one lonely performer dressed as San Antoni, but no one is there to see him! I suppose the European festival model can also entertaining, but sometime requires a more somber cultural overlay to make it compatible with local religious practices.