Comments on: The False Positive of the T.A.Z http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/index.php/2009/08/17/the-false-positive-of-the-taz/ Notes from the Drafting Table Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:11:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: lucaskrech http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/index.php/2009/08/17/the-false-positive-of-the-taz/comment-page-1/#comment-974 lucaskrech Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:55:09 +0000 http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/?p=1628#comment-974 You are making my arguments much more extreme than what I am actually saying. Nowhere did I say this relates to all of any group. You seem to be indicating that I am assuming some reverse causality along with the arguments I am making, which is not the case. When you say, "your assumption that just because people work at button-down jobs, means they are in some way inherently less mindful or aware of what type of healing the planet needs, is a very poor one," I would agree. But I am not saying that people in button down jobs are inherently anything other than people with button down jobs. What I am saying is that there is a danger in treating something like Burning Man as an inherently transformative experience when for many it is just a steam valve which allows them to more deeply buy into the flawed and sick system that Burning Man culture supposedly critiques. There are plenty of people who hold down regular job type jobs who are working for the betterment and healing of the planet. That is a wonderful and good thing. I would like there to be more. What I was saying in my piece is that for many people the effect of things like BM is to mitigate the inner drive and desire to actually do more in their daily lives. What I said was "The irony of course is that far from freeing themselves from the confines of social structures and rules they are wholly adopting the rules and confines of a different culture. No true questioning has gone on. What has happened is the wholesale transference of one externally imposed value system with another." This is a far cry from assuming anyone is "inherently less mindful" than anyone else. I am not laying blame or acting superior. I am pointing out the dangers inherent in such radical potential. You are making my arguments much more extreme than what I am actually saying. Nowhere did I say this relates to all of any group. You seem to be indicating that I am assuming some reverse causality along with the arguments I am making, which is not the case. When you say, “your assumption that just because people work at button-down jobs, means they are in some way inherently less mindful or aware of what type of healing the planet needs, is a very poor one,” I would agree.

But I am not saying that people in button down jobs are inherently anything other than people with button down jobs. What I am saying is that there is a danger in treating something like Burning Man as an inherently transformative experience when for many it is just a steam valve which allows them to more deeply buy into the flawed and sick system that Burning Man culture supposedly critiques.

There are plenty of people who hold down regular job type jobs who are working for the betterment and healing of the planet. That is a wonderful and good thing. I would like there to be more. What I was saying in my piece is that for many people the effect of things like BM is to mitigate the inner drive and desire to actually do more in their daily lives.

What I said was “The irony of course is that far from freeing themselves from the confines of social structures and rules they are wholly adopting the rules and confines of a different culture. No true questioning has gone on. What has happened is the wholesale transference of one externally imposed value system with another.” This is a far cry from assuming anyone is “inherently less mindful” than anyone else.

I am not laying blame or acting superior. I am pointing out the dangers inherent in such radical potential.

]]> By: Transformative Performance « Light Cue 23 http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/index.php/2009/08/17/the-false-positive-of-the-taz/comment-page-1/#comment-973 Transformative Performance « Light Cue 23 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:10:12 +0000 http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/?p=1628#comment-973 [...] week I pulled on some low hanging fruit to make an argument about live performance and social change. While there has been some interesting dialog about that, the focus has largely been on the example [...] [...] week I pulled on some low hanging fruit to make an argument about live performance and social change. While there has been some interesting dialog about that, the focus has largely been on the example [...]

]]> By: Tarik http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/index.php/2009/08/17/the-false-positive-of-the-taz/comment-page-1/#comment-965 Tarik Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:32:10 +0000 http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/?p=1628#comment-965 I have thought about this quite a bit, and I made sure to read your post a few times to ensure I was taking it all in properly and also to make sure I didn't skim it like I do most material I peruse in my day-to-day review. I have had this page open all week, and because of my job I have not had time to sit down and write my response, but when I do, it will surround a few points. Firstly, the concept that all escapism can be folded into your definition and argument (all theatre, hedonism, etc). Secondly, your assumption that just because people work at button-down jobs, means they are in some way inherently less mindful or aware of what type of healing the planet needs, is a very poor one and I will illustrate the danger of making that when I elaborate. Most importantly, I feel that there is simply greater inherent difficulty in enacting change in some places than others. While I do not condone adultery, irresponsible drug use or other suffering-inducing activities, they will happen, and to pretend they won't is fantasy. People die from being irresponsible and not just at Burning Man or parties. While I completely agree it is necessary for there to be some decompression and utilization of the experiences learned at BM or ANDC's or in Theatre, sometimes its possible, and sometimes its not. I have thought about this quite a bit, and I made sure to read your post a few times to ensure I was taking it all in properly and also to make sure I didn’t skim it like I do most material I peruse in my day-to-day review.

I have had this page open all week, and because of my job I have not had time to sit down and write my response, but when I do, it will surround a few points. Firstly, the concept that all escapism can be folded into your definition and argument (all theatre, hedonism, etc). Secondly, your assumption that just because people work at button-down jobs, means they are in some way inherently less mindful or aware of what type of healing the planet needs, is a very poor one and I will illustrate the danger of making that when I elaborate.

Most importantly, I feel that there is simply greater inherent difficulty in enacting change in some places than others. While I do not condone adultery, irresponsible drug use or other suffering-inducing activities, they will happen, and to pretend they won’t is fantasy. People die from being irresponsible and not just at Burning Man or parties. While I completely agree it is necessary for there to be some decompression and utilization of the experiences learned at BM or ANDC’s or in Theatre, sometimes its possible, and sometimes its not.

]]> By: lucaskrech http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/index.php/2009/08/17/the-false-positive-of-the-taz/comment-page-1/#comment-963 lucaskrech Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:07:03 +0000 http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/?p=1628#comment-963 Yes! The energy and potential is amazing. But so is the waste and apathy. Glad you liked the piece! Yes! The energy and potential is amazing. But so is the waste and apathy. Glad you liked the piece!

]]> By: Karin http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/index.php/2009/08/17/the-false-positive-of-the-taz/comment-page-1/#comment-961 Karin Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:41:58 +0000 http://LUCASKRECH.COM/blog/?p=1628#comment-961 Lucas, thank you for saying what I've felt about Burning Man for a long time: that if the huge amount of money, time, and effort that people put into Burning Man projects, supplies and just GETTING THERE was redirected, we could effect some *serious* social change. It makes me feel like people would rather have fun for a week than make life better for their fellow humans. Not that some people don't do both, and not that people don't deserve vacations - we certainly do! - but it seems like a terrible waste to me. I would love to see more people be inspired by their experience at Burning Man, or just the idea of it, and then bring that inspiration to their real lives: pursue their true passion, change the world, go after their dreams. That's what I wish. Lucas, thank you for saying what I’ve felt about Burning Man for a long time: that if the huge amount of money, time, and effort that people put into Burning Man projects, supplies and just GETTING THERE was redirected, we could effect some *serious* social change. It makes me feel like people would rather have fun for a week than make life better for their fellow humans. Not that some people don’t do both, and not that people don’t deserve vacations – we certainly do! – but it seems like a terrible waste to me. I would love to see more people be inspired by their experience at Burning Man, or just the idea of it, and then bring that inspiration to their real lives: pursue their true passion, change the world, go after their dreams. That’s what I wish.

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