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Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

topic posted Tue, September 4, 2007 - 4:51 AM by  David 		Share/Save/Bookmark
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Directly quoted from :

www.burningman.com/art_of_b...heme.html

"2008 ART THEME: AMERICAN DREAM

This year's art theme is about patriotism -- not that kind which freights the nation state with the collective weight of ego, but a patriotism that is based upon a love of country and culture. Leave ideology at home; forget the blue states and the red; let parties, factions and the so-called issues that divide us fall away. Flag burning or flag worship play no part in this year's theme. Ask yourself, instead, a more immediate question. What has America achieved that you admire or feel proud of? What has it done or failed to do that makes you feel dismayed? Put blame aside, in this election year, and dare to ask an even greater question: What can postmodern America, this stumbling, roused, half-conscious giant, yet give to the world?"


I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

From reading many tribe threads ...

Like last years theme when announced many are hoping its a Hacker Prank.

I think its real.


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David
offline David
New Zealand
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  • This post was deleted by Tuatha
    • Tuatha
      Tuatha
      offline 78

      Re: Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

      Wed, September 5, 2007 - 1:06 PM
      *deleted my own post due to error*

      I cant say i like the theme idea, as an international it feels like the art theme alienates me from the event rather than makes me feel a part of it,

      thats just an initial feeling and it is only an art theme

      and from what ive seen in the event the art theme is only really a small part, but none the less im not keen on it
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      • Re: Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

        Wed, September 5, 2007 - 4:03 PM
        I try not to get too swept up in the themes each year. That's not why I go or don't go. Burning Man is what we make it. Nevertheless, I do wish they hadn't called it "American Dream" --but instead given a global focus ---something like how we might make the world a better place, not just America. I think of myself as more of a citizen of the world anyway-even though I'm a Californian. Until we have someone OTHER than Bush/Cheney in the White House, you all KNOW what this girl's American dream is. I hope you won't let the theme keep you away. Burning Man wouldn't be what it is without you.
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  • Bruce
    Bruce
    offline 95

    Re: Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

    Wed, September 5, 2007 - 8:06 PM
    Yes, it's quite interesting the amount of discussion the theme has provoked-- more widespread, even, than the premature burning of the man. And as far as I can tell, much more negative response than the early burning of the man...

    Alternative paper Piss Clear did its last year this year; there was an article about regionals which I did not entirely agree with, but there was a paragraph that seemed very germane--

    Spare Some Change?
    Regional events were supposed to give folks who
    couldn't make it to the desert that Burning Experience.
    Unfortunately, once people attend a regional, going to
    Burning Man becomes a Holy Grail with a large price tag.
    Nothing is more pathetic than watching a broke, unemployed
    Burner scrape together money so they can get to the playa.
    It's especially charming when your room-mate can't pay his
    rent because he just spent his last $300 on a ticket because
    he couldn't afford it when they first went on sale.

    For me personally, an 8 year burner who missed (happily, overall) his first this year since I started going in 1999-- use the big event for the name power, inspiration, and magic it has given, but focus on creating our own version, more in tune with our own ideals, as part of =our= dream :-)
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    • Hana
      Hana
      offline 92

      Re: Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

      Wed, September 5, 2007 - 8:43 PM
      Im not quite sure what to think about the theme for this year either, i just heard about it today, but i was definatly suprised! Although if you read more about the theme on the bm website, its alot different to what first pops into your head, its alot more international than it appears. Dont see what happened to all the themes that didnt cause so much controversy? like the human body, hope and fear for the future, the underworld etc etc.

      my first thaught was wtf are they trying to piss people off!? haha but after some more reading it makes a little more sense. This is what it also says on the website about the theme
      "In 2008, the Burning Man will stand atop a high-rise tower. Instead of windows, this edifice will feature images of flags that represent the countries of the world. Ranging from Canada to Chad, from Brazil to Burundi, from Vatican City to the Republic of China, these 244 symbols will shine in the night, gleaming like cut gems upon the surface of a jewel box. The United States of America will be among them. Each country can be said to represent a dream no less radiant or precious than the rest. Each nation may be viewed as a container of identity; yet each one can be said to be a glimmering illusion, an arbitrary entity defined by boundaries on a map. All of us are immigrants to Black Rock City. What can we dream America to be?"
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      • Crys
        Crys
        offline 35

        Re: Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

        Thu, September 6, 2007 - 3:15 PM
        Indeed, the next theme is a bit on the flawed side for me. When I first heard it, I thought how terrible it was but then thought that many people might take advantage of the theme and make a statement,,,then again that could possibly bring a lot of negative energy to BRC which I'm sure many people would prefer to avoid,,,the matter keeps bouncing back and forth... This year was my first burn and besides it being the best week I've had in a long time, I found it quite incredible how many internationals there were and how easily it was for me to forget which country (even planet) I was on! The theme being called "American Dream" is arrogant especially since bm officials are trying to make it seem like its representing the whole world. I found the wonder of BM is that it belongs to only those who build it and experience it for that week in time, and how many of those citizens are not from the usa?
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  • Wendy
    Wendy
    offline 41

    Re: Prepare to be blown away......BM 2008 Art Theme announced.....

    Sat, September 8, 2007 - 4:43 AM
    Like everyone else, I'm in two minds about it. On one hand, as a kiwi I'm going "WTF are they trying to alienate internationals?" On the other I'm going "What a fantastic opportunity to create some really cool art to show the NZ perspective on America. On the third hand (because i borrowed some off helix), that 'gleaming like jewels' thing sounds wanky as hell, seems like a token nod to internationalism, and I'm not sure I want my country associated with the American Dream in that way. On yet another hand, BM is an American spawned, American based thing, and if they want to turn the spotlight on their own culture, I say "Why the hell not?"

    I am afraid it will turn BM political, and I have never had a greater desire to take art to the playa than since I heard this theme.

    I'm also contemplating a way of token nodding the theme at this year's KB, at which it's rumoured there may be some BMORG folks.

    Dr Windy
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