By Invitation Only By Rebecca Snedeker

By Invitation Only
Throughout this semester, we have covered many cases that exemplifies the way society creates groups in order to categorize people; whether it be by race, sexuality, and/or socioeconomic status. One of the cases we discussed in class was the documentary, By Invitation Only, stood out to me overall. This film dived into a New Orleans tradition that has long been thought of as a fun celebration for all; Mardi Gras. The first recorded Mardi Gras in New Orleans occurred on March 3rd, 1699. However, an important part of this well-known celebration did not come to fruition until the abolishment of slavery in 1865 , “after which several other parading organizations came into existence” (de Caro). These parading organizations, were

This discrete organization has granted her family membership and they have exclusive and extravagant balls during Mardi Gras and dress in exorbitant outfits as if they are royalty. The societies even select a king and queen of the festivities each year. As she digs into the past to determine the origin of the elite carnival balls, she discovers that these celebrations of Mardi Gras was started by the secret societies after the abolishment of slavery. These extravagant and exclusive balls were used as a way to separate themselves from the newly freed slaves. Throughout the film, she interviews her family members, who have been in the elite, white carnival society since the creation of Mardi Gras to determine the secrets of the masked men, the roles of being the queen of these masked men, and the exclusive nature of the elite, white carnival society. Snedeker also follows a childhood friend, who is chosen to be the next queen of the masked

This is something that is very common within society human. Humans have always had a tendency to categories things and that does not exclude people. Separating people into racial categories and constructing this idea that one is superior to the other, can cause racial tension. Racial tensions can lead to hostility and violence between the competing groups. Another issue that is caused by categorizing people is opportunity hoarding. “Opportunity hoarding is a sociological concept utilized by Charles Tilly in 1998 that has been used to explain a growing range of phenomena related to social inequality” ( Rury & Saatcioglu ). Opportunity hoarding is when members of a categorically separated group keep the wealth and resources within that group of people. An example of this sociological phenomenon from the film, By Invitation Only, involved her childhood friend, Emily, who was chosen to be the next queen of the elite Mardi Gras ball. Although Emily was picked to be a queen, the true reason she is picked, is to honor either her father or grandfather; the men within the secret society. Emily had to endure many lessons of how to more her scepter and in the film, you can hear them discuss the uncomfortable way to hold a position and move. One hold involved dorsal flexing her wrist and the instructor refer to the feeling as your wrist feels like