Comments on: Opera de la Playa

By: Neil Jordan

Neil Jordan — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:36:48 +0000

Thank you – this is wonderful. As a singer with Seattle Opera Chorus and a virgin burner this year I was moved by your comparison, and left thinking: let’s do the two together. Opera on the playa is not that hard to pull off and I know enough pro classical singers who go to put a project together (email jordan_neil here: jordan_neil (at) hotmail.com if you are in). Perhaps we can even bring some of the playa to opera, both in the costumes (just look at the closing of the 2012 Paralympics) and in the inclusiveness.

Thanks again.

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By: Affinity

Affinity — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:20:16 +0000

I find this spectator conversation very interesting. The Burners in these photos include one of the builders of the Man from the Man Krew, the Center Camp Cafe Decor Volunteer Coordinator, the artist and crew of the heart, “Heartfullness”, a long time Burning Man light artist who has become known all over the world, a Black Rock Ranger, the Secretary of the Board of the Black Rock Arts Foundation, etc., etc. These Burners are not spectators. They have dressed up to go to parties and dinners and such on the Playa to celebrate creativity and community. That is what happens in a community of participation and inclusiveness. The outcome is often celebration.

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By: juna

juna — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:05:01 +0000

the opera on the playa turns everyone into spectators. that’s evolution.

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By: TimH

TimH — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 17:11:49 +0000

I enjoyed the perspective on the similarities of the two worlds. I used to be focused on the differences between BRC and the default world but these days I see more of the similarities. Really it all comes down to my perspective. If I choose to have the view that all things on the playa are awesome forms of self expression and things in the default world are messed up then that’s the way it’s going to be for me. There’s plenty of douchebags on the playa and plenty of good things happening elsewhere. What’s important is my own perspective and what I’m giving no matter where I’m at.

@aka- What does judgement of my fellow burners/humans do for me? Somehow justify that my own decisions and actions make me a “better more authentic burner”? I may not agree on how everyone experiences the burn but does that make it more or less of an experience than mine. What if somebody did stay the majority of their time in an RV and showered and had a fresh set of clothes for every day in a ziploc bag? Do I need to let that affect my experience in a negative way? If they are moved or inspired by a piece of art that I bring, what do I care what they look like or where they’ve eaten or who fed them. We’re all at different places in our lives. I’m not the same person I used to be and will hopefully evolve into something different in the future. I’ve known people who were camped in tents, didn’t shower much, ate simple self prepared meals and were miserable the majority of the time because they couldn’t get out of their own heads long enough to let the magic do its thing. If you were out there with us this year I hope you got everything you needed and wanted out of your experience no matter how and where you were camped.

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By: Jennifer Raiser

Jennifer Raiser — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:52:05 +0000

aka: I’d actually spent six hours walking the dust as a Ranger that day, so made an extra effort to be spiffy for a long-scheduled celebration with friends. Sun showers work great if you plan ahead, and I had kept my outfit in a ziploc bag specifically to look fresh. Despite your inference, I do not camp with plumbing or electricity. The dinner (to which I was not invited) was a thank-you from the artist for people who helped work on her sculpture. A few years ago, I pre-cooked a seated 80th birthday dinner for 50 people on the playa, served and cleaned with the help of friends, so I know it can be done without a caterer. Just because something looks dressy doesn’t mean it is plug and play;it simply has to be well organized and executed.

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By: aka

aka — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:40:11 +0000

altho an interesting article on contrast, the burners generally look too clean to be at BRC. did you quick run outside your RV to snap a pic and then run back in? was the dinner on the playa catered? your text says you experienced BRC but the pics tell another story. peaceout

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By: BrotherMichael

BrotherMichael — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:53:39 +0000

Beautifully written.
Thank you for sharing your profound insights.
Welcome Home!

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By: Tempest

Tempest — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:17:23 +0000

Brava!

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By: Playa hugger

Playa hugger — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:28:57 +0000

Bravo!

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By: Maurice aka Morocco

Maurice aka Morocco — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:15:48 +0000

My mind feels pleasingly stretched by this brilliant comparison of two worlds that heretofore were completely segregated in my consciousness: the playa and the opera. Thank you, Jennifer/Coco, for tearing down that wall!

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