carnival in rio de janeiro is an explosion of colors, street parties, and parades so intense to almost appear uncontrollable and random - but it is not.

in rio, the colorful carnival costumes are not random at all, and they all play a clear role within the celebrations.

street parties, called blocos, are revolution wrapped in revelry - a chance for everyone to address any social issue via a costume, typically home-made, fun and sarcasm.

on the other hand, the costumes at the high-end carnival balls were first conceived by the upper class to briefly break the very rules and behaviors of the society they normally upheld.

and finally, the extravagant and unmatched costumes of the official carnival parades, are perhaps a mix of the two, with the added element of competition among the people who created them.