Tens of thousands of ‘burners’ urged to conserve food and water and shelter in place in Nevada’s Black Rock desert

You have to laugh … I remember Glastonbury, up to my knees in mud - it’s all part of the fun. Having said that, it’s unlikely turn into a survival situation in a field in Somerset, so not really that comparable …

  • Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world
    13·
    1 year ago

    In a nutshell: A lot of cultures (especially a lot of Native Americans) have a(n often harvest) festival that involves burning an effigy that represents negative emotions, hardship, etc. And it is generally human shaped because that made it a lot easier to spin it as “This effigy represents The Other tribe across the river. They are the bad people and the cause of all your problems” as needed.

    And like 40 something years ago, a bunch of white artists were cranky that the locals didn’t want their input on what kind of paint scheme or sculptures would really make that ancestral tradition POP. So they made their own version in a desert with blackjack and hookers.

    Then twenty-ish years ago, a bunch of rich folk and the nouveau rich techbros realized that these artists with their excessive amounts of hallucinogenics and “free love” lifestyle really know how to party. So they took it over as a way to party for a week or two every year.

    And the key is: Regardless of your socioeconomic backgrond, you can come together with the joys of getting high, oogling some hot chicks, and appropriating some culture. All while talking about how this makes you a better and more enlightened person.

    And in all seriousness: if you ever get the chance, go to an ACTUAL effigy burning festival. A lot of, generally Southwest, cities still have them and still respect the origins and it makes for a truly fascinating and, honestly, kind of spiritual experience as you learn, eat amazing food, and take part in something that goes back thousands of years… even if a lot of the Others were the American people…

    • Crismus@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Santa Fe has a pretty decent festival.

      But it has been a few years since I lived in New Mexico. It could have devolved into Corpo garbage.

      • Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 year ago

        Yeah. Been to Zozobra a few times over the years and it is always a blast. There… is a lot of “artists” doing the cultural appropriation with that too but it feels more like a natural evolution since it is the character of the town and a lot of Native Americans are still involved.

        I have also heard there are some amazing festivals out in Arizona but travel never lined up for that.

        • Crismus@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          I went to Zozobra a bunch in the late 90’s and early 00’s. Then I just got sick of the tourist trappings of it all.

          Balloon Fiesta really traumatized my dog. Now she growls and barks at any hot air balloon she sees. Even after moving to Colorado, she still can’t stand balloons.

          Living in a tourist town really isn’t as fun year-round like it is on vacations.

    • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      And in all seriousness: if you ever get the chance, go to an ACTUAL effigy burning festival.

      I would, the way you describe it makes it sounds like a really nice event to see.

      That is, as long as there’s not heavy torrent of rain washing everything out.

      Thanks for the reply / explanation, it was a good read.

    • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      And it is generally human shaped because that made it a lot easier to spin it as “This effigy represents The Other tribe across the river. They are the bad people and the cause of all your problems” as needed.

      It’s too bad that the “other tribe” technique still works so well in today’s politics.

      If people ever started paying attention to the meta of the species, they’d realize we’re all more like each other than we think.