Embrace the Self, Burn "The Man"

In last night's reading, "Arts, Crafts, and Socialism," author Sheila Rowbotham explains Ashbee's social ideals. Rowbotham writes, "These new social relations for Ashbee were not just about external change, they involved inner, spiritual, and personal sentiments (49)." This quote really spoke to me because I had an experience last August in which I was surrounded by people who embraced radical self-expression, self-reliance, and the positive power of community in a place where there were no intolerances. I was in a place called Black Rock City, Nevada, a city that only exists one week out of each year in the middle of the Black Rock Desert. This week long event is an experiment in temporary community within a harsh environment. More than 50,000 people from all over the world come just to experience the community for a week. During this week, Black Rock City is the 3rd largest city in Nevada. There are industrial buildings there. During the week of the city's existence, there are many art installations, giant artistic structures, and huge sculptures with fire and lights. However, when the week is over, there is no trace left behind of the city because the strict "carry in, carry out" policy.

This experiment of temporary community is also known as the Burning Man Project. Participants must bring all of their own water, food, and supplies to build a living structure for the week made to withstand the harsh desert storms. Survival is not hard, however, because people help each other out. Radical self-expression is encouraged within this city as well as informality and collective effort. There are small communities within the city in which people hold craft fairs, yoga sessions, meditation classes, environmental education classes, discussions of feminism, discussions of gay rights, classes on organic gardening, etc. There is no government in this city. The power lies in the people who live there. There are no rules other than to respect one another and the earth. Burning Man offers a different experience from the norm of a world shaped by insitituions, service workers, and commercial transactions. Black Rock City is a place of sharing and free exchange within a gift economy, thus there is no money allowed. In Black Rock City, people are just people. The entire Burning Man experience reminds me of Ashbee's social ideals because Burning Man first encourages radical self-expression. Within our modern society, our "selves" are often stifled by what commercial society tells us we should be. Thus, we are disconnected from ourselves, creating dissonance between ourselves and the world, other people and within ourselves. Once we are able to embrace our individualities, we can once again connect with ourselves and connect with the world around us. Social relations are not entirely external because it really takes each individual to first become mindful and conscious of his/her self. Then, we can connect with others, creating strongly bonded communities.