ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the struggle of the Krewe of Proteus to earn back respect of parade-goers as it goes head to head with the super krewe Orpheus on Lundi Gras. Orpheus has its own internal struggles for prestige, as evidenced by changes in medallions that have created divides within the parading organization and threaten to undermine its communal identity. The chapter explores whether or not ball goers have access to greater bead wealth than the people who stand on the street during parades. The Mardi Gras excavations provide a number of ways to look at how power and prestige is negotiated through Mardi Gras. Even if fleeting and momentary, the ability to throw beads to a begging parade goer gives us a sense of power and prestige. A bag of beads from Proteus is easily identified as such, not only from the number of medallions included, but the color scheme of the remaining beads.
