2013 Theme - Cargo Cult - thoughts?

[Ninja Nemo]

So its up:

http://burningman.com/art_of_burningman/bm13_theme.html

My first thought was WTF? The man base sounds very ambitious and techy. Granted it fits with the theme very well, but I (personally) had hoped for a return to a simpler base.

That said, there's a lot of possibilities art-wise. Any chance the man will have tesla-coils built into his hands ala the pic?

[Simon of the Playa]

Burning the Fourth Wall...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall

[Ninja Nemo]

It does have a nice social / burner commentary aspect to it. Personally, I knew nothing of the cargo cults until this, so its enlightening as well. The more I read about it, the more I like it. In my view, it seems to be a manifestation / commentary on decommodification, which should spark some interesting art.

Per wikipedia:
"A cargo cult is a religious practice that has appeared in many traditional pre-industrial tribal societies in the wake of interaction with technologically advanced cultures. The cults focus on obtaining the material wealth (the "cargo") of the advanced culture through magic and religious rituals and practices.

"The primary association in cargo cults is between the divine nature of "cargo" (manufactured goods) and the advanced, non-native behavior, clothing and equipment of the recipients of the "cargo". Since the modern manufacturing process is unknown to them, members, leaders, and prophets of the cults maintain that the manufactured goods of the non-native culture have been created by spiritual means, such as through their deities and ancestors, and are intended for the local indigenous people, but that the foreigners have unfairly gained control of these objects through malice or mistake."

[TomServo]

Time to bring back the disgruntled postal workers.

[oscillator]

Let's Ride...

[trilobyte]

I like it. Lots of opportunity for sci-fi and other crazy art. While the idea may sound silly at first, it's a real thing that's happened time and again throughout history.

[theCryptofishist]

Okay, I love it, I love it, I love it!
I have a story... Later.
Too bad there won't be 12 Streets. "Magical Thinking Avenue" is just, so, right.

[technotony]

This is awesome. So many possibilities to get creative and it fits the burning man values so well as a mocking celebration of commodity consumption!

I really like the man base as well, my favorite part of last years burn was being able to sit save and sound, away from all the elements, underneath the man connecting with fellow burners. It looks like we'll get another chance to do that again this year.

[trilobyte]

You'll also get to slide the slides!

[Ugly Dougly]

And I thought Larry never listens to me. Thanks, bro!

[Simon of the Playa]

i just licked the lizard, and i agree, this theme is Out of this World...


i can't wait for the morning trade rags with the reviews.

[MacGlenver]

Awesome theme. Love the mock-up of The Man.

[Ugly Dougly]

One word, my friend: kava.

[VultureChow]

Opened the link and though I was looking at a Simon of the Playa "theme" from one of the threads here. Had to triple check it's veracity.

Now I feel like a jaded veteran. I looked at the theme and am going to promptly ignore it. My mountain lion taxidermy form will be here next week so I can begin my completely unrelated art.

[brody]

I'm hoping to see lots of GilliganTech/bamboopunk this year. It's sort of cargo-culty..... CLOSE ENOUGH.

BAMBOOPUNK IS THE NEW STEAMPUNK. You heard it here first, friends.

Hey, maybe this is what I'll finally turn my golf cart into for this year:



EDIT: I'm JUST SAYING.

[BoyScoutGirl]

Wait... didn't Simon post about The Gods Must Be Crazy over in the theme theorizing thread? Evidence that his time-travel machine is working!

[latchseeker]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock

[VultureChow]

All skydivers will be greeted and worshiped as gods.

[ygmir]

at least my pants and shorts will be in style.

[maladroit]

I absolutely, 100%, love it. Might inspire a lot more enthusiasm than, say, American Dream. It feels like they really tried to come up with something good, and I hope the Man structure can actually exist as depicted.

Spinning Man will be a small source of disorientation for those who use it as a landmark at night

[junglesmacks]

Love it love it love it love it love it..


NOW, LET'S GET WEIRD..

[joel the ornery]

at least my pants and shorts will be in style.

oh, think big!

become a deity to all the young women needing a firm hand.

[trilobyte]

Cargo pants altar… cargo shorts altar… which would receive the most offerings? Would the shamans promote peace, or preach of the perils of worshipping (wearshipping?) false garments?

Will someone get their Dharma Initiative on?

[Fiver]

The post about it mentions the man rotating on his base? Could this be true?

[ecweber]

I like it! Reminds me of this:

http://youtu.be/u73qCsVjAN8

[trilobyte]

Fiver - yes it is.

[pepomint]

I like the general idea of "we've fucked up beyond belief! the aliens should save us!".

BUT, bringing in cargo cults is some seriously colonialist shit. Which is to say, racist. I feel like it's going to be a year full of tiki bars and other "gentle racism", and people of color or of other nations will be seriously mocked, starting with the poorly done theme announcement itself.

So, I hate to say it, but this Burner (and theme camp organizer) will have to break a 10-year streak to boycott BM based on the theme. Which makes me super-sad.

Also, this is going to put a real damper on the people of color who have been attending. It was awesome to see increasing numbers of folks over the last couple years, and this may well reverse that. Also, I think we can expect blowback from anti-racist organizations.

BMOrg, you fucked up big time on this one. Think about changing it?

[Fiver]

Fiver - yes it is.

Navigating the playa late night is going to be a nightmare . Some one needs to put a art installation consisting of huge columns of light by the temple and by center camp (think WTC memorial) so we will be able to figure out where we are. Claim it's art calling the aliens to land, but really it's just waypoints to get home.

[Morrell]

Oh my but does this look fun!!!! If the Man base turns out anywhere close to the rendition it will be amazing and burn beautifully!!!!

[Ugly Dougly]

I'm not seeing the racism, pepomint. Millenialism is not restricted to Melanesians. "Cargo Cult" is emblematic of our cultural illusions.

By the way, did you leap to condemn the racism of the Floating World?

Burning Man has had tiki bars from the very beginning.