Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
The tradition of Black Masking Indians, in which ‘tribes’ of Black revellers wear elaborate artworks at Mardi Gras that are inspired by ceremonial Native American outfits, dates back to at least the 19th century. While the exact origins of the ritual are murky, they’re firmly rooted in – and an enduring expression of – the distinctive Louisiana Creole culture of New Orleans.
Profiling members of the Wild Magnolias, one of the best-known tribes of Black Masking Indians, this short documentary captures the tradition as it exists today – at the nexus of artistry, cultural heritage and community mentorship. Providing an intimate look at her native city, the director Alexandra Kern captures the Chief Bo Dollis Jr as he guides three young Wild Magnolias through the making of a Mardi Gras Indian suit. Forged over many months, their creation requires imagination, skill and, above all, intense commitment.
Director: Alexandra Kern
Website: Wild Magnolias
video
Knowledge
An Indigenous myth and a geological survey elicit two ways of knowing one place
4 minutes
video
Technology and the self
How the magic of photography brought Victorian England closer to the spirit realm
16 minutes
video
Home
An artist endeavours to bring the Moon down to Earth in a ritual of yearning
5 minutes
video
Information and communication
An animation built from road signs is a whirlwind study of flash communication
2 minutes
video
Art
Creating art that was aware of itself – and the viewer – made Manet the first modernist
15 minutes
video
War and peace
A century later, can poetry help us make sense of the First World War’s horrors?
9 minutes
video
Life stages
What Michelangelo’s late-in-life works reveal about his genius – and his humanness
13 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
Preserving memories of a Japanese internment camp, and the land where it stood
8 minutes
video
Making
Trek to a remote Himalayan village where artisans craft teapots fit for kings
11 minutes