“When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Burning Man festival has once again turned to ash. And like the phoenix, it prepares again for rebirth. Sorry about that. I was just over at the Burning Man site, and I was inspired to use cliched symbolism.
Now, I’m an art fan and am especially fond of new work, weirdo stuff, and installations. Yeah, I dig all of that. Plus, I like to hear artists talk about their work. I actually “get it.” And yet, the Burning Man annoys me. So, naturally, I’ve kept tabs on it for the last 8 years. What? Do you ignore things you deride? Where’s the fun in that?
I haven’t been hoping for reports from the Black Rock Desert similar to the stories from Woodstock II. I prefer violence and rape-free festivals. But I don’t expect much from people in crowds. Especially not people in the desert in the middle of the summer? Are ya kidding? Art festivals should be in the cool of fall or spring in cities with good restaurants. Or they should be right up the street from your apartment so you can have friends over and sit on the porch and people watch.
I’ll give them credit though. They really do seem to have a respectful, wacky, peaceful time out there in Nevada…until this year when someone burned the Burning Man early pissing off a whole bunch of free-spirits. Oh, to be the freest of all the free spirits. Can you imagine enraging people whose mission statement says things like:
Burning Man is radically inclusive, and its meaning is potentially accessible to anyone.
Radically inclusive, you say? I wonder if that includes the guy who burned the Burning Man early? I mean, will it include him next year? I know he was there this year. Doy.
So, is destroying the property of an LLC a creative-destructive act? That’s like Meta-Burning Man, man.
The touchstone of value in our culture will always be immediacy: experience before theory, moral relationships before politics, survival before services, roles before jobs, embodied ritual before symbolism, work before vested interest, participant support before sponsorship.
Free love before frat boys who want to hook up with hippie girls on X. (There’s my derision and contempt for the crowd mentality.)
Finally, in order to accomplish these ends, Burning Man must endure as a self-supporting enterprise that is capable of sustaining the lives of those who dedicate themselves to its work. From this devotion spring those duties that we owe to one another. We will always burn the Man.
Or someone else will, early, irritating everyone and endangering lives because when you play with fire … well, you know the rest. Ouch.
Gary said,
September 9, 2007 at 9:44 am
I want to hook up with hippy girls on x.
julieluongo said,
September 9, 2007 at 10:48 am
Ask Stacy to dread her hair and go without shoes and showers for a few days. Then, get the X, some patchouli oil, and a Grateful Dead CD. The rest is up to you… good luck.
michael said,
September 9, 2007 at 12:21 pm
All good things which begin in spontaneity must come to a rules-grinded halt; this is the nature of man and is also the origin of religion and politics.
chrisfiore5 said,
September 9, 2007 at 5:48 pm
hello julie,
just dropped by to check out the latest entry in your blog…
hope all is well.
peace.
Dayv said,
September 10, 2007 at 11:13 am
If something is built for the sole purpose of being set on fire, how is setting it on fire considered arson?
julieluongo said,
September 10, 2007 at 11:24 am
It’s like telling a joke and having someone steal your punchline. Joke jumping arsonists!
ideasmith said,
September 11, 2007 at 5:27 am
How odd. I heard about Burning Man for the first time yesterday in a book I’m reading. And then today, this. The picture reminds me of a ritual in one of the biggest festivals in my country. A huge effigy is erected and then burnt down in the evening, amidst much fanfare as it (supposedly) represents the downfall of evil and the triumph of goodness.
julieluongo said,
September 11, 2007 at 11:06 am
Interesting, IS. What book are you reading?
I think burning the man at the festival is about celebrating impermanence. The message: Don’t get too attached to anything, including your body…or your art, as it’s all going to be ash one day. Creation and destruction are part of the same cycle.
Jim said,
September 11, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I think Burning Man is about people trying way too hard to make something “special”.
We all know there’s only one way to make something “special”…
julieluongo said,
September 12, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Great. I’ve been playing that ditty over and over in my head for a day now…thanks.
Jenn said,
September 14, 2007 at 11:21 pm
good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
How about that? Even Peter Cetera draws inspiration from MLK.
julieluongo said,
September 15, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Doesn’t Peter Cetera [sit-tair-rah] know it’s said set-er-uh [like et cetera]?
MamaPeg is Watching You said,
September 17, 2007 at 11:09 am
Here’s an interesting fact – Dooner just got back from NYC where he was working at the US Open. He subletted an apartment in Brooklyn from a girl who was on vacation for a month. Her vacation spot – yup, Burning Man Festival where one of her responsibilities was to guard the aforementioned burnt Burning Man statue.
Small world, huh?
julieluongo said,
September 17, 2007 at 11:52 am
Yikes. That’s like being the guy who was on guard when the Trojan Horse showed up at the door.
Jenn said,
September 17, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Yeah, I’m guessing she’s not going to be invited back next year.
Brent said,
August 26, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Burning Man is going to be amazing this year, wish I could have gone. If anyone else is wondering what Burning Man is like, check out these videos… http://www.redux.com/playlist/burning_man_101
julieluongo said,
August 27, 2008 at 11:07 am
I like the “I Heart Lamp” installation. I do heart lamp.