Burning Man: a celebration of capitalism

[billc]

Here is an interesting take on this curious desert event:

http://biggovernment.com/babramson/2011/09/05/burning-man-the-ultimate-celebration-of-capitalism/

I suggested that my Marxist friend might have things exactly backwards. I proposed that there is no such thing as “excess” in a capitalist system; what he had identified was actually “surplus.” And it is the very concept of surplus that enables events like Burning Man. Around the country, Burners are productive enough fifty-one weeks a year to spend the fifty-second “gifting” the bounty that they have accumulated. No one leaves for Burning Man, I noted, wondering whether the gifts they are distributing would render them incapable of affording food or rent upon their return. Furthermore, I suggested that the manner in which Burning Man motivated artists to conceptualize grand installations, trained numerous organizers in logistics, and promoted the professional development of event planners, DJs, and lighting specialists throughout the year, was precisely the capitalist system in action.
My Marxist friend hung his head. It seems that at no point in his academic career had anyone ever suggested that capitalism did any of these things. But to my surprise, my survey of the crowd—heavier in sex educators, radical lesbians, aficionados of fine pharmaceuticals, and spiritual healers than academics—revealed a fair amount of head nodding. While they may not have characterized it as such, they all seemed to possess an inherent understanding of the importance of motivation and surplus.

 

[JohnEdward]

For the article, "it is wasted on far too many people too dumb to be proud of that very success.
In short, Burning Man is a slightly weird microcosm of America."

I think he is really saying these hippie larva are too stoned and dated alternative reality microcosm of a small part of America. Yes, hippies became the worse capitalist, they became the big "Man."

 

[JohnEdward]

If anyone is wondering... yes, am aware of the guy who wrote the article probably having a conservative bias against the liberal bias. I am not into that. I just think the Burning Man event is a really weird alternative reality. They say pot is much stronger now than in the 60's. I think the Burning Man event proves it.

 

[Darksoul]

-I have friends who have gone to Burning Man several times. They went for the experience, and to share, not for anything political. Although I'm sure politics is discussed there. I would love to go some year.