Subject: Fwd:  Re: [burningcorn] Kinda missing the point (videotaping)

--- In burningcorn@y..., "Phil" <chrome@l...> wrote:




> Wow ! That thread sure blew up, didn't it ? Probably, most of you
> don't remember me by now. I'm the one who did the first post.
>
> Guys, I don't mean to be mean about this, this is just some honest
> feedback. I think that some of you are so ready to play the
> "persecuted artist" role, that you aren't really listening to what
> other people are saying. You're just "running scripts", as they say
> in assertiveness training.
>
> Maybe this will clear things up, sort of. A little while back, a 
neighbor
of mine planted a Boxwood tree. Any of you know what that is ? A 
great, big
old tree, looks really beautiful when its full grown. And it's 
strong ! My
neighbor's three year old son is watching him do this, and he's all 
excited.
"Dad, can I put a treehouse in it, next year ?" The dad laughs, and 
says,
no, son, you may have to wait a while on that. The kid looks a little
crushed. He was really into getting that treehouse up. That treehouse 
was
his passion.
>
> Did the dad do that because he was a mean guy ? Did he think that
treehouses were evil ? No. He did it, because he knew that next year, 
the
tree wouldn't be much more than a sapling. Dropping a treehouse in it 
then,
would kill it. You got to give the tree a chance to grow, before you 
put
that kind of strain on it. Once it's strong, then you go for it.
>
> Some of you are saying, "hey, people get photographed and 
videotaped at BM
all the time, without being asked". But, guys, that's different. At 
BM, if
you're running around naked, giving mouth-to-mouth to your pet 
cockroach, or
whatever, who cares ? You'll be one "freak" in a crowd of "freaks". 
You're a
lot less likely to be noticed, and judged. Being on tape, if you're 
on of
thousands, isn't likely to make you feel shy about getting in touch 
with
your own personal freakiness, you know ? BM is like the mature 
boxwood that
the dad knows his kids will be able to build their fort in, in a few 
years.
Burning Corn is like that sapling. Somebody gets videotaped at B.C. 
being
different, he'll be one of a tiny handful of people. He'll really 
stand out,
and that makes people more self-conscious. So, guys, let's not act 
like this
is about artistic freedom. It's not. It's about deferred 
gratification. It's
about giving this sapling of an event a chance to grow and get strong,
before throw!
> ing the videocameras at it.
> Just my 2 cents worth. Paul.

At the first BC, someone threatened to kick my ass after I 
volunteered to
help with the sound.  The second, someone threatens to sue me?  If I 
go to
the 3rd, I'm gonna leave my toys at home , sit, watch, and not 
participate,
for sure.  Being threatened 2x in 2 years has kind of put the kabosh 
to my
adventurous spirit.  It's not anything to do with being a persecuted 
artist
any more.  It has more to do with plain old survival.

Phil
--- End forwarded message ---