2 posts tagged “art”

"Oh, you are going to Burning Man...who is playing?"

FIRST: Yes, someone burned the man early this year. You can find the story here and here. It was rebuilt, and the burn continued as normal. Well, as normal as can be expected for such an event.

Many people I know have only a vague idea of what Burning Man is.  I understand the confusion, in that all other big parties like this are base around music, and are run-of-the-mill promoter-created events.

What it is exactly is up for philosophical debate, but for those with no experience of the event, this is all academic.  The official definition of B-man is "an annual experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance".  What does that mean?

Temporary Community:  This means that when you go, you are not buying a ticket to an event.  You are not buying your way in to compensate others for the task of entertaining you.  You are basically paying your taxes to Black Rock City, a temporary city in the Black Rock desert that happens one week out of the year.  In return, you get to be a citizen of a community based around artistic expression.  This does not mean you will be entertained, this means that you can participate.

Radical Self Reliance: The event takes place in a desert.  Not a regular desert, but flat, alkaline, dried out lake bed, with temperatures around 115 during the day, and cold during the night. There is no food, no water, no comfort, except what you bring.  There is also no art, entertainment, or community, except fwhat you bring.  You are responsible for your safety, survival, and experience.

"But wait!" you say "If I am going to pay between $150-$350  just to get in, shouldn"t they give me something for this?" Good question.  Two things make it worth the ticket price: 1) a unique community and 2) freedom of expression

1) Unique community: Young and old wandered around in various states of undress.  No one was self-conscious about this.  Those who did decide to wear clothes wear whatever they feel like, from high-formal to crazy alien-Muppet costumes.  Desert princesses and TRON suit replicas, Mad Max and Vegas Lounge lizards mingle, without batting an eye.  Try wearing your ass-less giant robot suit to that Brittany concert, and see what happens. Try driving around your 50 foot long fire-breathing dragon car down the highway.  Here, it is no problem.

2) Freedom of Expression: This is in part what creates the unique community I just described above.  Not only does this result in a unique community, but the art that is possible in this environment is amazing.  The size, scope, and audience for this art is not found anywhere else.  Where is the gallery that would house a steam-punk tree-house?  Where is the exhibition that would house a gigantic steel snake skeleton (with moving parts and flame throwers)?  Where else would support a large intricate and artful temple, and let it be burnt to the ground when it's purpose is fulfilled?  The art is stunning.

So, amazing things happen here. But where do they come from?  The participants bring them.  Some people make pancakes every sunrise for hungry party-goers returning form all-night dancing.  Some people clean out and decorate the port-o-pots with incense and art to make them bearable.  Some people volunteer to build the city itself, and some people just bring wonderful costumes to add to the atmosphere.   Of course, many, many people just bring nothing, and expect to be entertained.  This isn't necessarily bad, and everyone doesn't have time or money to make this event their hobby,  but the fact that all of these amazing things are done by the participants and not from some outside source, makes them all the more amazing.

Further reading.  The official "What is Burning Man?" explanation is here.   If you want to know where all of that ticket money goes, that can be found here. 

There is MUCH more to this, but I hope that all of those who don't know what I do with myself at the end of every August will now have some idea.  If you want to go, find someone who has gone and talk to them first, before you buy a ticket.  It is much different than anything else you have experienced.

"He has also recorded the vaginal contractions of ballet dancers and broadcast them into space..."

Other choice quotes.

"In GFP Bunny (2000), Kac created a transgenic rabbit using a gene derived from a jellyfish, which makes it glow fluorescent green."

"The device is a 25-micron hook connected to a fishing line and an amplifier that scales up the organism's struggle, so that reeling in a cell can feel like netting a large tuna."

This is all from here.

For even more thrilling tales of genetic daring-do, check out this.

Thanks to the Center for Media and Democracy.