Premier Rock Forum

What's a "modern theorist"?

But... but... I just really want to do this.

Does that make me snobby and existential with my dreadlocks and piercings?

I couldn't agree with you more Antero. I've thought of late that there's three stages of "coolness": first, trying one's best to be cool in some way or another; second, not really trying anymore - often because after a certain age one is forced to grow up and actually make a living for oneself and freakishly cool styles often don't work so well in the money making world - but maintaining one's "coolness" self-conceit by deprecating others eccentricities; third, finally not caring anymore about your own state of "coolness" or whatever anyone else does one way or the other having accepted oneself for who one is and having nothing to prove; aware of how fake and hypocritical some wanna-be "cool" people can be, but at the same time being able to appreciate those who are truly weird and wacky, while managing to do incredible things, for what they are without any resentment. I'm not naming names, but some people seem to be still in stage 2...

As I've said before, I've never been to Burning Man, but I've read accounts and seen lots of pictures/videos, and I can't understand how anyone can not acknowledge how fucking cool some of the shit that goes on there is. Some here have compared the weirdos at Burning Man to famous artists of the past and present, and undoubtedly most of the former would individually be nowhere as interesting as artists. But that misses the point. Burning Man is one big performance art piece with lots of imperfections, but with thousands of people re-inventing it every year. We need way more events like this not less! I hate to make an uncomfortable comparison, but those who are dissing Burning Man sound to me like grumpy old men complaining about "kids these days!"

sockmonkey wrote:But... but... I just really want to do this.

Does that make me snobby and existential with my dreadlocks and piercings?

I don't know, but I would like for a LOT of people to play Dance Dance Immolation.

Without suits.

To the tune of "Move Any Mountain."

my mom loves burning man. from her descriptions and photos, it does sound cool. driving giant skulls across the desert? yes!

however, my girlfriend instinctively dismisses it as flaky hippy crap so i imagine i won't be going.

trilonaut wrote:my mom loves burning man.

Your mom is probably super-cool, but out of context, you can see how that's not a ringing endorsement.

Incornsyucopia wrote:As I've said before, I've never been to Burning Man, but I've read accounts and seen lots of pictures/videos, and I can't understand how anyone can not acknowledge how fucking cool some of the shit that goes on there is. Some here have compared the weirdos at Burning Man to famous artists of the past and present, and undoubtedly most of the former would individually be nowhere as interesting as artists. But that misses the point. Burning Man is one big performance art piece with lots of imperfections, but with thousands of people re-inventing it every year. We need way more events like this not less! I hate to make an uncomfortable comparison, but those who are dissing Burning Man sound to me like grumpy old men complaining about "kids these days!"

But they all seem to be having such a good time!

Fun is unhealthful!

Honestly, I long for a return of a proper Saturnalia or other major festival, where society joins together in absolute and joyous collapse for a few days.

sockmonkey wrote:But... but... I just really want to do this.

Does that make me snobby and existential with my dreadlocks and piercings?

no. it means you understand that "dance dance immolation" is an amazing phrase and idea and that it is beautiful that people actually went to the trouble of actually doing this thing.

Antero wrote:

Incornsyucopia wrote:As I've said before, I've never been to Burning Man, but I've read accounts and seen lots of pictures/videos, and I can't understand how anyone can not acknowledge how fucking cool some of the shit that goes on there is. Some here have compared the weirdos at Burning Man to famous artists of the past and present, and undoubtedly most of the former would individually be nowhere as interesting as artists. But that misses the point. Burning Man is one big performance art piece with lots of imperfections, but with thousands of people re-inventing it every year. We need way more events like this not less! I hate to make an uncomfortable comparison, but those who are dissing Burning Man sound to me like grumpy old men complaining about "kids these days!"

But they all seem to be having such a good time!

Fun is unhealthful!

Honestly, I long for a return of a proper Saturnalia or other major festival, where society joins together in absolute and joyous collapse for a few days.

I agree. Burning Man is the closest thing I know of in today's world to the Greek Dionysian festivals or the Roman Saturnalia, and I can only wish there was more such lettings go of normality. For how radical some people seem to think they are, I've definitely caught some wiffs in this thread of a Calvinist/Puritan-like dismissal of those who would actually think about having so much fun, while dismissing them as just being conformists of a different kind. Conformists they may be in one way or another, but the fact that it takes place in such an inhospitable place, where day time temperatures can reach well over 100 degrees, means that anyone who's prepared to go and suffer through that earns my respect. To me being a freak (as long as you don't hurt anyone else) doesn't need an excuse- it's its own reason. The world needs more of them not less.

On the topic of temperature, at fire spinning practice last night, the people that had gone were discussing that on Saturday, in the shade, the thermometer sat at about 107, and at one point out in the open got up to 118. That was the hottest day.

As a life-long Northerner, and lover of snow, I think that would fucking kill me.

Also, some friends in St. Louis have tried to hold Saturnalia parties. Full garb and feast, which seemed like a lot of work. The menu was like, 20 courses. I don't think it went over all that great.