tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post279634519757287486..comments2024-03-29T04:15:38.341-07:00Comments on Writing About Writing (And Occasionally Some Writing): A Writer Goes to Burning ManChris Brecheenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-83521783891264052602013-07-25T22:34:46.596-07:002013-07-25T22:34:46.596-07:00Cool! I'll look you guys up!Cool! I'll look you guys up!Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-81043815304451215312013-07-25T21:59:54.742-07:002013-07-25T21:59:54.742-07:00Hey Chris.
I *am* a writer, but I experience a s...Hey Chris. <br />I *am* a writer, but I experience a similar introversion regarding my identification with it. (I have a science vocation and consider myself "in the closet" as a poet). <br /><br />I suppose you may have seen that "burning blog" article which speculated on why BM has no literary culture nor (apparent) literary style? Your essay here lends a personal note as to many of the reasons why this may be so. <br /><br />And I too, with an age that has a three in front of it, concur regarding the strange and satisfying equanimity which increases in prevalence each year. I view the combustion-aspect of the event as a ritual cleansing (whether intentional, or as like-it-or-not catharsis), and this might be a major driver of that deepening balance which you are describing. <br /><br />I arrived at your blog (like many of these July 2013 commentators) because of the viral article about your admirable confrontation with that creepy sexual predator, and I admired your own unique contrast of energetically lexical bling (are you a sparkle-owl?!) with wise and well-intentioned respectfulness. I opine: if there is indeed (already) a "Burner Literary Style", I think your style is exemplary -- I wouldn't say the name "snark", but certainly you lay playful brutalities and irony alongside a deep patience of hope and buried positivity. You know, the fractal-people would call it "The Sacred Trickster" or "The Fool Card" or "Coyote". Bravo.<br /><br />You may have heard that a group of writers are getting together this year to try and challenge that skeptical "burning blog" piece about that blackrockian literary Lack... and I do hope you will come share your notebook-enthusiasm with us, we are currently planning a number of events (and I am bringing a bookcase-art project, "Spines", which you might like to put some of your own print in). I hesitate to solicit link-clicks, especially since we have congregated around one of those proper-noun commodity/community websites, but I trust you can use your google skills to find us with the phrase "GetLitatBurningMan".<br /><br />Many cheers,<br />Matt.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-7980386985596644482013-07-19T09:42:12.390-07:002013-07-19T09:42:12.390-07:00The odds are quite slim. I hope you enjoy it. No...The odds are quite slim. I hope you enjoy it. Nothing will ever be like that first burn (for better and for worse). <br /><br />Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-20628858146785850362013-07-19T09:39:42.979-07:002013-07-19T09:39:42.979-07:00I'm not sure it jumped the shark, but it defin...I'm not sure it jumped the shark, but it definitely changed. It still seems to be a pretty fan-damn-tastic party. I've also heard that the regionals are much much more like the old event, so maybe you're not missing out as much as you think. <br /><br />Your job at least sounds like it's the nexus of a lot of interesting stories! :)Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-39858243972840477182013-07-19T09:37:07.867-07:002013-07-19T09:37:07.867-07:00It looks like we might be going after all, so I...It looks like we might be going after all, so I'll have to swing by.Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-63945495555241581902013-07-18T06:25:49.596-07:002013-07-18T06:25:49.596-07:00I am not a writer, and tend to ramble, but I wante...I am not a writer, and tend to ramble, but I wanted to thank you SO much for this article Chris. My hubby and I are in our mid 30's, and fairly 'normal' when we look at images and read descriptions on camps. This will be our First Burn, and its so refreshing to hear that there are others like us (and not to put us in our own stereotype, but we do not dress up, or ask for a lot of attention, love to be the fly on the wall), that can and have enjoy the Burning Man. We are very excited for the experience from handling the environment, seeing works of art, and meeting people.<br /><br />My hubby and I are thinkers, listeners and love learning why people do the things they do. We tend to go in and out of stereotypical groups in everyday lives "tribes" not to be a part of it, but more to observe.<br /><br />So again thank you, and I would say see you on the Playa, but the odds are slim, lol.ChasityZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01477427763227597132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-67180644646781056562013-07-17T15:44:34.091-07:002013-07-17T15:44:34.091-07:00Thanks for this! I'm a 23 year old, relatively...Thanks for this! I'm a 23 year old, relatively introverted playwright from Chicago and this will be my third year on playa...if I do indeed use my low-income ticket and go. Most of my friends are in their late 30's and went to Burning Man back before it jumped the shark. (Thanks to you all for constantly reminding me that I missed out on 'the real thing'. Sigh. )<br />At least locally, things are fresh - for now at least. In Chicago, most people dont know what Burning Man and our local community is strongly juxtaposed by the midwestern values that surround us. I like it here - I live in an arts collective, sit on the board for our nfp (B.U.R.N.), and run the greeters station at our regional burn. At the same time, our underground events have started go get written up in the Reader and douchecanoe randos clad in "Freakeasy" t-shirts ask me if they can pay by credit card at the bar. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00885560747726638010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-13091904692823909722013-07-15T23:59:56.515-07:002013-07-15T23:59:56.515-07:00Hi, Chris - just stumbled across your writing, and...Hi, Chris - just stumbled across your writing, and am very much enjoying it. If you're going to the Playa this year, please come visit Camp Conduit at 3:15 and H. We gift free sun hats to the masses, and we're also a no-generators, solar-powered camp. Martahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13886820659808093066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-15072835103626341642013-04-14T19:16:21.266-07:002013-04-14T19:16:21.266-07:00Thanks for writing this. I've gone off and on...Thanks for writing this. I've gone off and on for a few years, but I have almost identical feelings. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-33781843272649004942012-12-17T18:27:59.148-08:002012-12-17T18:27:59.148-08:00I've talked to a number of artists who feel th...I've talked to a number of artists who feel this way. It can be lonely out there if you're not a raging extrovert.Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-21488344825648257232012-12-17T18:26:47.726-08:002012-12-17T18:26:47.726-08:00Yeah, some of that "immediate art" stuff...Yeah, some of that "immediate art" stuff really belies art that isn't performance or installation. I'm a painter and I feel a LOT of these feelings when I'm out there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-65268932351717114942012-10-14T13:13:06.497-07:002012-10-14T13:13:06.497-07:00Thank YOU for the compliment!Thank YOU for the compliment!Chris Brecheenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-10344758824881094732012-08-28T19:20:55.295-07:002012-08-28T19:20:55.295-07:00Excellent essay......thanks!Excellent essay......thanks!Marcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03342229424980366242noreply@blogger.com