Any DUers go to Burning Man?

[deek]

I didn't, but a close friend just returned from his first. Wow. Sounds amazing. Perhaps I'll be able to muster up enough courage to attend next year.......
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Burning Man counterculture seeks social, political influence
DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer Monday, September 1, 2003



(09-01) 14:07 PDT BLACK ROCK DESERT, Nev. (AP

Burning Man, the wild counterculture festival held annually in one of the nation's most remote areas, is coming to cities across America.

It's time to try to influence the very culture against which this year's record 30,500 Burning Man participants rebelled, the phenomenon's founder and resident visionary said in an interview.

Ultimately, executive director Larry Harvey sees the festival's values of libertarian freedom, radical artistic and self-expression, and anti-consumerism becoming a social movement that will influence American politics

<snip>

Phase Four is turning those people into an Internet-connected network for social and ultimately political change, in Harvey's vision.

more:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/09/01/state1707EDT0076.DTL

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. One of these years I want to go, I really, really do

Been wanting to go for almost a decade since I first heard about it.

It has to be a tremendous time.

Though it might be more fun to wait a couple years until it's not the "fad" it's become in the last five years and gets back to its original intention and the "hanger ons" (the hip and trendy types who only do things because they're hip and trendy to do) who come and disrupt are no longer there.

[sonias]

2. Didn't go this year but

I have been 3 times before. It is the most awesome community to join. We have a very large regional burn here in Austin, TX and that's how I got involved. It's all about community. The art is fantastic. I really love the no vending/ fuck corporate culture of the event too. It is a tough event to survive but that's part of the experience. You need to rely on yourself and your community. Everyone should try to go at least once in their lifetime. It really is a good readjustment to your thinking.

If you decide to go, try to hook into one of the regional burns across the country first so that you will have some community to participate with. This is a participatory event, you will want to be part of some theme camp or village. That's how you really enjoy it.
http://www.burningman.com/

Sonia

[devilgrrl]

3. I went!

Had a great time! :bounce: Though I must say, this years Burning Man seemed to reflect the current state of the economy, as there didn't seemed to be as many elaborate Art projects and theme camps as the past two years.