August 14, 2004

The Politics of Burning Man. A conversation between Burning Man founder Larry Harvey and John Perry Barlow. [Via WorldChanging.]
posted by homunculus 20 years ago
  • Disclaimer: I am a Burner. I do wish the Burner community would become more politically active. However, I sort of question Barlow's holier than thou attitude since he for some reason thinks random people laughing is likely to attract favorable anti-Bush media attention. I find this proposal baffling. I do feel the Burning Man experience has the potential to awaken people to many things that are wrong in life and where they need fixing.
  • a bunch of my burning man acquaintances/campmates are going to the RNC instead of BM, to, like, try to get people there to register as Democrats. personally, I think this is kinda dumb, altho apparently they plan to travel thru some swing states & propagandize...?? whatever, I am not sure a bunch of burners will be the most compelling inducement for republicans to jump party lines, as they are likely to reinforce silly ideas that libs are a bunch of wacky weirdos...or something. Todfox, dude, see you on the playa. I'll be the one in green glitter!
  • Instead of choosing 'Be active or attend Burning Man' as Barlow seems to be proposing or your (Medusa's) friends are doing, it makes more sense to attend Burning Man and spend it appealing to Burners' activist natures -- by encouraging them to vote, speak up, stage street theater, etc. when they return to the real world. BM is packed with motivated, inspired people. If we could get even 10% to be more active the world would probably be a better place. With that said, you have 51 weeks out of the year to be an activist, what's wrong with 1 on the playa? Especially when the RNC is pretty much guaranteed media attention for the repubs. I'll be at the Infinite Oasis village, 3:30 and Earth, and I'm staging a little blogger party Wednesday night. Don't let that glitter hit the playa. ;)
  • Whatever happened to going somewhere because it's fun? I actually wanted to go to Burning Man once in my life, despite the fact that I probably fall into the "straights" category, willingly or unwillingly, but in one short debate, Harvey and Barlow have killed any desire to ever go to the thing. There's a time and a place for politics, and burning a big damn wooden dude in the desert doesn't seem like something I'd want to be bothered with the politics of. Damn them. Damn them to hell.
  • One of the funniest things I saw in '02 was the Larry Harvey car, which drove around with a big statue of Harvey on top like he was Burnerbashi himself. Don't take him too seriously. BM is a big party if that is what you are looking for. It is not a matter of being 'straight' or 'weird' but more a matter of being willing to experience the event and prepared for the climate. Oh yeah, I meant 4:30 and Earth. :P
  • Dancemobs
  • Why NOT the nose? I need to get me a supply of red noses - to wear with my red fez. Because red noses are cool.
  • We recently (inadvertently) had our own version of Burning Man here in Texas.