The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
newrepublic.com
The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
1–10 of 180 posts
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#2The main focus of the story is actually on the "No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man" art exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#3I've always toyed with the idea of going to Burning Man but I'm turned off by how popular (read: the big, comfy trailers and the stratification of attendees) it has become. Is there a retreat that still is all about art / society-in-a-box?
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#4[deleted]
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#5Having participated in a lot of countercultural gatherings, I was initially intrigued about Burning Man. But if you hear about an event from the mass media, instead of through word of mouth in your own small countercultural community, chances are that the event is already past its prime. After hearing lots of old-timers talk about how Burning Man was in the 1990s, and then hearing more recent attendees describe their experiences, I have long since got the feeling that BM is now as played out as, say, Goa was after 1972, or Nimbin after about 1980.
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#6"Leaving no trace"
What is the carbon footprint of this festival?
They should rephrase that to "Leaving no visible trace"
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#7I've always toyed with the idea of going to Burning Man but I'm turned off by how popular (read: the big, comfy trailers and the stratification of attendees) it has become. Is there a retreat that still is all about art / society-in-a-box?
I'm not a burner, but I've worked with several. There seems to be local community burner gatherings that are less well known unless you are part of the community and probably have the vibe are you seeking.
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#8I've always toyed with the idea of going to Burning Man but I'm turned off by how popular (read: the big, comfy trailers and the stratification of attendees) it has become. Is there a retreat that still is all about art / society-in-a-box?
I don't go to BM, but my teenage son does (with his mother).
His mother and her BM crew make some of the big art you see pictures of every year.
They think it's still great.
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#9Having participated in a lot of countercultural gatherings, I was initially intrigued about Burning Man. But if you hear about an event from the mass media, instead of through word of mouth in your own small countercultural community, chances are that the event is already past its prime. After hearing lots of old-timers talk about how Burning Man was in the 1990s, and then hearing more recent attendees describe their…
> After hearing lots of old-timers talk about how Burning Man was in the 1990s
But that's part of the meme, just as much as Burning Man's principles invite the criticism
The founding members weren't serious about "radical self reliance" as their congregation now repeats without practicing
Its also more of a heroin hit for these people, the second hits will never be as good as the first, but its still the first hit for everyone else.
The expense also invites the criticism, it is ironic and funny. Wage workers can't take a week and a half off for burning AND have another vacation somewhere else that year, and thats if they can rationalize the cost to begin with. So it invites quirky tech CEOs and socialites and DJs, along side the actual counterculture people who barely have a social security number. For a festival in an inhospitable environment that prides itself on decommodification, it is ALWAYS going to have criticism.
SEE YA THERE! :D
Re: The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man
#10Having participated in a lot of countercultural gatherings, I was initially intrigued about Burning Man. But if you hear about an event from the mass media, instead of through word of mouth in your own small countercultural community, chances are that the event is already past its prime. After hearing lots of old-timers talk about how Burning Man was in the 1990s, and then hearing more recent attendees describe their…
> After hearing lots of old-timers talk about how Burning Man was in the 1990s But that's part of the meme, just as much as Burning Man's principles invite the criticism The founding members weren't serious about "radical self reliance" as their congregation now repeats without practicing Its also more of a heroin hit for these people, the second hits will never be as good as the first, but its still the first hit fo…
"But that's part of the meme, just as much as Burning Man's principles invite the criticism"
And so is this reply. Essentially any event that has substantially changed from its original form/intent has this conversational pattern:
Old participant: "$event is past it's prime now."
New participant: "Everyone says that, but $event is still popular, and I like it, so they're wrong."
Of the two opinions, only the one from the old participant carries information about how things have changed. Whether this is relevant to a new participant is debatable, but it's certainly relevant to conversations where people try to sell a mass-market event as a niche experience.