Comments on: Does wearing a utilikilt and fuzzy boots make you more “authentic?”

By: Phil Wyman

Phil Wyman — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:11:08 +0000

No matter where we go there will be radical leaders and crazy creative people. There will also be those who are being as creative as they can muster, and to some it may no look very creative. There will be people who don’t care for being concerned about clothing choices – or clothing for that matter. There will be people who follow the leaders, and get involved with mild variations of the imitation of others.

I suppose in some sense following the leader just might be someone’s expression of authenticity. That might not sound very Burneresque, but even our radicalism at some point becomes its own status quo, and there are only so many leaders. The rest of us are bleating to the tunes we identify with best. Maybe that is our authenticity? I dunno – just blathering here now.

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By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:39:34 +0000

Well, the first year I went I sat around the BeeHop Pancake House and talked with a long red-haired gentleman with just regular clothes on, tee shirt, shorts. But, on his head he wore a little kids birthday party hat complete with tiny rubberized cord. Turns out he was a scientist working on the just about complete Human Genome Project and was heading to Bali after that Burn of 1997. Soo-o-o-o- I learned straight off never ever concern myself with whatever anyone had on, but better to take the time to explore the person rather than anything else. Creativity is there for the pleasure, however it expresses! And, it’s all just too funny and too wonderful to bother with anything less.

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By: jihadjim

jihadjim — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:32:30 +0000

This should be a banner year of neato costumes!!!! This would have been my 15th year, had a I “Won the Lottery”. Larry should do a package bundle deal with your ticket. Kilt, dust mask, glow sticks, one hit of of E. Maybe one of the Cable shows can do a reality show on the Playa. “Biggest Playa Loser”. “My First Rave”. “Busted by the BLM” Shoot a couple scenes in the Thunder Dome. Go read some poetry in Center Camp. Radical self expression rocks. Fuck ya!

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By: amy

amy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:06:44 +0000

I’ve been trying to explain similar notions to people for years. I love this article. I still encourage people to wear costumes but not just what everyone else wears, and not just something that seems cool. I personally, dress the way I want to dress at Burning Man. I say to myself, “if I’m allowed to wear anything I want, what would it be?” And I come up with creative stuff that I personally feel wonderful in. And I try to stray away from the “mainstream” look of other Burners.

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By: ShamanRandal

ShamanRandal — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:50:41 +0000

Ah, that helps! I’ve often wondered if the ubiquitous nerdy-chick in body paint is truly that “self-expression” which we claim to celebrate, even when someone else did the painting. I don’t think so, but it is *self-exploration*. In this case, daring to flaunt your flesh is an adventure in *possibility*. Which is in-fact authentic. And I’ve always celebrated that.

Larry Harvey once addressed the issue of costume-elitism by stating something to the tune of, “Wouldn’t it be nice if the guy who created the big ferris wheel with the LED movie screen on the side could walk down the streets of BRC in khaki shorts and sunglasses, unafraid of being ostracized as a ‘tourist’. The solution would be a zip-up suit with tattoos and dreadlocks—a kind of partici-pants.”

Sure, a great outfit is a good conversation-starter, but we need to get over our fashion-police instincts, and realize that everyone present is truly present, simply by the fact that they made it to the desert.

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By: lauren van camp

lauren van camp — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:24:05 +0000

When I stare, on a Thursday night, in the middle of the Playa, at the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, tear-inducing multitude of lights surrounding me, I can only think of one thing: Generosity. All the hours of work it took to fabricate those art cars, sew candy on the dresses, paint & sequin those shoes, dye and tear those old sheets for cammo-netting, re-fashion the grandfather’s tent into a casbah, test and retest the electronics, etc…. All as a gift, all for “my” personal visual enjoyment/orgasm. I want to scream, “Eat your heart out, Disneyland, this is not produced for profit. Eat your heart out, New York/Paris/Rio, there is more creativity per square inch RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW than anywhere else on the planet.”
Nowadays you can buy your lit & furry coat (for $800). You can also decide to wear shorts and a t-shirt. But, by doing so, you’re denying yourself the chance to GIVE. So if you bought the “easy” furry outfit or wear the same thriftstore bathrobe everyday, I hope you also wear a dazzling smile and give of yourself in some other fabulous, authentic way. Give every chance you can. Preparation is included in that.

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By: xhoosier

xhoosier — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:56:40 +0000

each year I think about getting a furry coat made or buying a kilt but when it gets closer to the burn I end up in my tee shirts and shorts because they are confortable. The main reason I am looking at new clothes this year is because I think some people look at me and think I am a cop or something when I walk into their camp. Maybe I am paranoid but I had a couple of experiences where I walked into a camp and was asked a million questions about myself before they finally loosened up and shared some good times with me. I don’t mind talking about myself and letting people learn about me but it seemed a little tense. In any case, maybe I will have a new fuzzy hat or light up vest this year, we will see what happens by the time I leave for Burning Man.

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By: joe

joe — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:37:42 +0000

As my Uncle John use to always say, “Do what you want, but never be boring”

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By: DhammaSeeker

DhammaSeeker — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:21:55 +0000

When you write your book, Caveat, I will buy it. Excellent post – as always.

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By: Psyche

Psyche — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:08:26 +0000

Beautifully written as always. I agree, the creative eccentric experience at Burning Man gives people the opportunity to try on an infinite number of potential selves. The psychological value in that experience, I believe, occurs when one discovers a valuable (to them) aspect of the self that they then cultivate in the default world. THAT is authenticity.

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