HisChildForever Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 It fascinates me. I would never, ever do it, but there's something about it that holds my interest. Probably because there's no real definition of what Burning Man is. At least that's what I gather. Here's a documentary on it, I'm a little more than halfway through. Anyone ever hear about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKolbe Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Yeah... My old boss and his wife go to it every year.. He tried to explain it to me, but that didn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 My cousin usually goes, but he is not exactly a model for prudent living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Yeah... My old boss and his wife go to it every year.. [b]He tried to explain it to me, but that didn't work.[/b] I know, right?? Here's what I understand - it's a self-sustaining community of individuals who artistically express themselves through dress and music, among other things...the idea is to wholly embrace freedom from societal constraints, to work together and see each other as a family, to meet new people who share these ideals with you. My cousin usually goes, but he is not exactly a model for prudent living. I watched a different documentary a couple months ago that showed a heck of a lot of scantily clad and naked people...plus there seems to be a very relativistic approach to theology, spirituality, and philosophy among the participants - I'd say there's a very New Age flavor about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Yes, I think it has a sort of New Age ethos. I think it is intriguing as a concept though. Kind of an example of how humans can bring a sort of chaotic working order out of the weirdest situations. That is why I find Kowloon Walled City so amazing too. :smile3: [URL=http://s921.photobucket.com/user/romanmars/media/1b8bf54db186ab92406acd7ae69f30b3.jpg.html][/URL] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Also, people go all out with their camps, some are very extravagant (artistically speaking). Camps are decorated, and there's also huge pieces of art (very modern). Everything is supposed to be for every body else's amusement, entertainment, personal growth, self-discovery etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfink Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 It's very New Age. Burning Man is very much what the participants seem to make of it. Here are key "tenets" of Burning Man: - the maker movement: basically, man is exalted by making things. So people make cool things to bring and show off. - a new atheist/spirituality mix: many of them acknowledge no god as such, but believe that humans have a need for spirituality. So they make a Temple, which is usually dedicated to some interesting spiritual or aesthetic ideal, and which is ritually burned to the ground in a final ritual. - libertarian or anarchist ideology: this is where you see lots of nudity coming from. Also they have done experiments with bartering and a so-called "gift economy" - the idea of "leave no trace" as a kind of environmentalist exercise, in which they build a temporary city in the desert without significantly altering the ecosystem. They get quite touchy about this subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKolbe Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I know, right?? Here's what I understand - it's a self-sustaining community of individuals who artistically express themselves through dress and music, among other things...the idea is to wholly embrace freedom from societal constraints, to work together and see each other as a family, to meet new people who share these ideals with you. Yes... He would talk about music and freedom/uninhibitedness .... He was a top of Maslov's hierarchy kind of guy.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 While Burning Man is a temporary annual event, there are a couple tiny settlements in the California desert with a similar sort of off the grid feeling to them. They do not have the artistic bent that Burning Man has, nor the spirituality aspects, but they maintain the self-sufficiency and minimalist ideals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 This thread is making me want to go. Something new and exciting would be welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I think Kowloon Walled City was worse than most dystopian fiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) Yes, I think it has a sort of New Age ethos. I think it is intriguing as a concept though. Kind of an example of how humans can bring a sort of chaotic working order out of the weirdest situations. You know what I find appealing about it - everyone accepts you as are you are, you can identify with pretty much anyone, and there's no judgement. Obviously there'll be bad seeds around, but that's the general atmosphere. It reminds me of why I come to Phatmass, to be among a group of like-minded people and to be accepted simply because I'm like-minded. Edit - typo, missed a word Edited June 28, 2013 by HisChildForever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I (mostly) just want to go for the music. However, the total experience might be quite interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) spirituality. So they make a Temple, which is usually dedicated to some interesting spiritual or aesthetic ideal, and which is ritually burned to the ground in a final ritual. To add, people fill the temples with pictures of deceased loved ones (it eventually looks like a shrine with all the candles and pictures), a lot of people write thoughts about loved ones on the wall (like "I wish I could've told you how sorry I was"), and it's burned as a sort of cleansing or tribute. Oops, forgot to add: people are also welcome to meditate and pray in the "temple." Edited June 28, 2013 by HisChildForever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Dude.. Phatmass meetup at Burning Man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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