My Blog
iianowear ; the star on the belly
Sat, September 8, 2007 - 4:23 PMSome time about May, I started seeing these ads for iLLiano Wear. I'm so curious about how that went down. If I were to play dress up as an adult I'd wear everything in that line, yet a burner I am farthest from being. I'm just curious though, everyone started marketing the fur wear last year, but this year they had this Illiano selling really expensive wear that would be perfect for Burningman.
That's just it, though, isn't it? If you have to market it, and it's perfect for Burningman, it's actually contra positive to the point of being a Burner. You don't BUY your state of the art freak wear, do you? Don't you kind of have to show up in your non-perfect hand-sewn rogue bear suit to really be fitting in?
So now these ads are every where and I am reminded of the Dr. Suess story of the Sneeches. You know, those birds with the stars on thars? If Betty hippy has her Illiano wear and drives up in her air-conditoned, potty/shower included 26-footer all stocked up with water bottles etc., is she really getting the true pleasure out of the roughing-it-in-heels in the desert anti-establishment journey?
Or, is she just being the primo sneech showing off the Star on her belly?
Sat, September 8, 2007 - 4:23 PM -
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Sun, September 9, 2007 - 11:31 PM
Didn't anyone tell you? The in thing to do there is get playa-boogers. It's kind of the universal bane of larger vertebrates who revel out there. Next thing you know, someone will figure out a way to not get playa-boogers and then they'll make a mint selling reasonably priced equipment to everyone at the event and a few years later, it will again be the cool thing to have playa-boogers...
And the beat goes on La di da di dah And the beat goes on La di da di dumb |
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Mon, September 10, 2007 - 1:07 PM
My least favorite thing this year was the Fuzzy wide-brimmed Raver hats (probably iLLiano wear) that looked as if a stamping machine made them. The 2nd least favorite thing was the person wearing it who dropped beer cans wherever he walked/stood/shit.
The first two years gave me faith in Burning Man as a empowering and creatively inspiring gathering - which it still was this year. I just couldn't get over the abundance or dipshits emerging from fully decked out RV's. It's going to be a vacation away for me from BM for while. Are there any other gatherings out there that aren't so overrun with Rich-wads? |
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Wed, September 12, 2007 - 5:58 PM
The wheels of "progress" continue to grind all in it's path
Burning Man is no different than any other event in that the more people go, the more the vibe changes. Things that start small, then generate a following, inevitably attract hangers-on and the curious. While this is usually a good thing, it can also water down the original intent of the event. You get the soccer mom who wants to relive her lost youth, but doesn't know how or the accountant who thinks he's just as "hip" as the next guy and is willing to buy anything he has to to prove it and the hipster doofi who HAVE to be their because they're too cool to miss it. Pretty soon, the vibe is less happy and free and more pretentious, less focused on connecting at a primal level and more about being seen as one of the in-crowd or wearing the right star at the right time.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying BM is ruined. I'm just saying that as all things touched by MAN, it's in a state of flux. Highs and lows, ebbs and flows, it's all relative and reflective of the energy we bring to it. The suicide at the Comfort & Joy camp was sad, but it was handled well within the camp (and by the authorities) and tons of support was offered to the campers, which is evidence of the underlying good nature and free spirit that Burning Man is known for. I know several people who didn't go this year, for one reason or another. I know a couple others that aren't going to go next year. I think, as with anything, the more familiar a thing becomes the less value it has in challenging us. Maybe they'll attend some of the smaller regional events (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...an_events) in order to quell their dissillusionment. Maybe they just need a break. Maybe they'll change their minds and go back and next year will be even more amazing than before. It's hard to say. (and Dani, You KNOW I don't much care for the "I'm so cool, I got the T-shirt" mentality. ....But I WILL tell you that working with fur can be a real pain in the ass. That's why my satyr legs are still hanging in my closet and I have modified them to do double duty as devil legs too with a quick change of the tail :-p) |
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Sun, September 16, 2007 - 1:37 PM
I see why you are a writer and I see you are a true humanitarian too. If every person who loved Burningman were as wonderful and sensible as you, I would have no cause for sarcasm. And so I am glad to have you, but maybe not too many of "you," as I love me my sarcasm. xxoo
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