...and neither was approved...
so far.
Reason is that -- word is as of now -- BRC placement isn't going to decide which application is valid and which one is not; or if we should file as two separate camps. That's up to us, and that's the word as of today. I will write more of this later when I have time, unless the General has time to fill in some of the details.
I only know details of the one application, so I can only speak to it. As an FYI to those that are interested, here is what was written on the one application I had knowlege of:
Physical Description:
--------------------
The front of the camp will be a facade, similar to the facade of previous
years, with two distinctions:
1) There will be a visual depiction of the mail and post offices through
history from the earliest treatment of mail throughout the world including
Persia, India, China and Rome to modern mail treatment in America and the rest
of the world. There are intricate international systems which allow mail to be
shared with from one person to another in various countries, and this will be
explored as well. Although many people may know of the Postal Service vision
of Benjamin Franklin, others may not be aware of the 1692 grant from King
William and Queen Mary to Thomas Neale "to erect, settle and establish within
the chief parts of their majesties' colonies and plantations in America, an
office or offices for the receiving and dispatching letters and pacquets, and
to receive, send and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as
the planters shall agree to give". This visual treatment will go on to explore
"hot" issues such as: a) how laws from 1873 censorship affect -- even today --
the dream of free speech in the US postal system b) How the monopoly by the US
government (and other goverments) affect freedoms, c) How the BRCPO
integration with outside postal service parrallels and parodies the
interconnectivity of international systems.
2)In the windows opening directly toward center camp, there will be no
adult-oriented activity, nor extreme ill-tempered treatment by postal workers.
Instead, those adults participants who give consent to "Extreme Postal
Service", will enter through one of the doors on the facade to the interior
lobby of the facade structure. There will be no need to enter this area for
routine postal matters, such as sending or receiving mail on or off playa.
Interactivity Description:
-------------------------
The BRCPO has had a rich history of providing service to the participants at
Burning Man, with highly personalized, non-commoditized interaction with every
human in the community who chooses to interact with the BRCPO -- clearly
opposite of what you will find in the USPS today, which could be characterized
as treating service of humans as a commodity. Because of this, our "service"
(aka performance art) is many times much slower than you would find, as slow
or even slower, than the stereotype of a US Post Office. Personalized
performance art, sometimes confused as a utility, is our American Dream.
We have been able to accomplish our goal through interaction at the windows
and delivery of mail on playa. At windows, BRC participants are treated to a
interaction by approaching a window "frame" -- like the literal art frame, but
at the same time also like the frame of reference -- that outlines the
participatory art that is to follow.
Our philosophy initiated with with the disgruntled postal worker of yore, with
the performace a persona of ill-temper and meanness in appearance, but loving
in heart. One dilemma we have faced in the past is properly training those who
interact with the BRC participatory public, so a) the public knows this is a
performance and b) the BRCPO postal official knows their role is
tongue-in-cheek, and not to allow the role to get the better of them. This
year there will be required training for all but the most seasoned BRCPO
workers, quality control, and a separate area for those who consent to more
radical interaction.
No money is allowed to change hands at the BRCPO. Although "bribes" have been
encouraged in the past, the move toward gifting and true personal interaction
and performance art is afoot. Just as BRC progressed from a barter to a
gifting economy, the BRCPO is moving in the same direction. Bribes, although
not prohibited, will be second to true performance art and gifting. Because
the there are no postcards for sale, BRCPO accepts postcards from BRC
participants who print these and take them to the BRCPO to distribute as free
gifts. The BRCPO camp participants (aka the "BRCPO") will also print cards as
well. In 2007 some postcards were prohibited from being ditributed because of
the content of the post cards, unfortunately censored by some of our own camp
participants*. We feel this is folly, and in 2008, our American Dream of true
freedom of speech -- as provided for by both Constitutional Amendment and the
burning principle of Radical Self Expression -- with all post cards, as well
as other forms of written, oral, and gestural communication, no matter how
objectionable to the current, former, or future government administrations.
Although delievery of BRC mail is usually confined to daylight hours,
particpation at the BRCPO is a 24-hour interaction with customer windows open
both during the day and night. More importantly, participation this year will
go beyond the range of dates for Burning Man, in that BRC citizens will be
asked to participate in a number of ways that will possibly stretch their
paradigm of Burning Man participation. Participants from around the country
will be asked to submit designs to be used for the official BRCPO post card
and an official stamp for the BRCPO. It is possible multiple designs will be
selected, depending on the quality of submittals. This is the first time the
BRCPO has done this.
The "Physical Description" section (section 21) mentioned a separate area for
more "extreme postal service". The reason for this is twofold. First, for many
BRC participants, especially those with less BRC experience, the persona of
the ill-tempered postal worker is so well acted and so seemingly real, BRC
Participants don't leave with the understanding that the interaction is meant
to be a parody. Second, although the BRCPO is considered an adult themed camp,
it is better to separate the consenting adults from the those that wish to
stay away from adult themed activities.
In essence, this year will be just as -- if not more -- interactive as
previous years, but with an emphasis on ensuring that all participants have an
enjoyable and growth-filled experience.
---------------
Fellow Posties, please keep in mind I have as yet to have contact with "the other side". And from my last email, you know I am open to it. Knowing how hectic my own schedule, I do not fault anyone for not contacting me as of yet. If there is interest for any entity or person in contacting me, please call me at 202-669-7274 or email me. I don't think circumstances are beyond repair with our BRCPO family, but then again, sometimes families can't live together.
Love,
~Blue
so far.
Reason is that -- word is as of now -- BRC placement isn't going to decide which application is valid and which one is not; or if we should file as two separate camps. That's up to us, and that's the word as of today. I will write more of this later when I have time, unless the General has time to fill in some of the details.
I only know details of the one application, so I can only speak to it. As an FYI to those that are interested, here is what was written on the one application I had knowlege of:
Physical Description:
--------------------
The front of the camp will be a facade, similar to the facade of previous
years, with two distinctions:
1) There will be a visual depiction of the mail and post offices through
history from the earliest treatment of mail throughout the world including
Persia, India, China and Rome to modern mail treatment in America and the rest
of the world. There are intricate international systems which allow mail to be
shared with from one person to another in various countries, and this will be
explored as well. Although many people may know of the Postal Service vision
of Benjamin Franklin, others may not be aware of the 1692 grant from King
William and Queen Mary to Thomas Neale "to erect, settle and establish within
the chief parts of their majesties' colonies and plantations in America, an
office or offices for the receiving and dispatching letters and pacquets, and
to receive, send and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as
the planters shall agree to give". This visual treatment will go on to explore
"hot" issues such as: a) how laws from 1873 censorship affect -- even today --
the dream of free speech in the US postal system b) How the monopoly by the US
government (and other goverments) affect freedoms, c) How the BRCPO
integration with outside postal service parrallels and parodies the
interconnectivity of international systems.
2)In the windows opening directly toward center camp, there will be no
adult-oriented activity, nor extreme ill-tempered treatment by postal workers.
Instead, those adults participants who give consent to "Extreme Postal
Service", will enter through one of the doors on the facade to the interior
lobby of the facade structure. There will be no need to enter this area for
routine postal matters, such as sending or receiving mail on or off playa.
Interactivity Description:
-------------------------
The BRCPO has had a rich history of providing service to the participants at
Burning Man, with highly personalized, non-commoditized interaction with every
human in the community who chooses to interact with the BRCPO -- clearly
opposite of what you will find in the USPS today, which could be characterized
as treating service of humans as a commodity. Because of this, our "service"
(aka performance art) is many times much slower than you would find, as slow
or even slower, than the stereotype of a US Post Office. Personalized
performance art, sometimes confused as a utility, is our American Dream.
We have been able to accomplish our goal through interaction at the windows
and delivery of mail on playa. At windows, BRC participants are treated to a
interaction by approaching a window "frame" -- like the literal art frame, but
at the same time also like the frame of reference -- that outlines the
participatory art that is to follow.
Our philosophy initiated with with the disgruntled postal worker of yore, with
the performace a persona of ill-temper and meanness in appearance, but loving
in heart. One dilemma we have faced in the past is properly training those who
interact with the BRC participatory public, so a) the public knows this is a
performance and b) the BRCPO postal official knows their role is
tongue-in-cheek, and not to allow the role to get the better of them. This
year there will be required training for all but the most seasoned BRCPO
workers, quality control, and a separate area for those who consent to more
radical interaction.
No money is allowed to change hands at the BRCPO. Although "bribes" have been
encouraged in the past, the move toward gifting and true personal interaction
and performance art is afoot. Just as BRC progressed from a barter to a
gifting economy, the BRCPO is moving in the same direction. Bribes, although
not prohibited, will be second to true performance art and gifting. Because
the there are no postcards for sale, BRCPO accepts postcards from BRC
participants who print these and take them to the BRCPO to distribute as free
gifts. The BRCPO camp participants (aka the "BRCPO") will also print cards as
well. In 2007 some postcards were prohibited from being ditributed because of
the content of the post cards, unfortunately censored by some of our own camp
participants*. We feel this is folly, and in 2008, our American Dream of true
freedom of speech -- as provided for by both Constitutional Amendment and the
burning principle of Radical Self Expression -- with all post cards, as well
as other forms of written, oral, and gestural communication, no matter how
objectionable to the current, former, or future government administrations.
Although delievery of BRC mail is usually confined to daylight hours,
particpation at the BRCPO is a 24-hour interaction with customer windows open
both during the day and night. More importantly, participation this year will
go beyond the range of dates for Burning Man, in that BRC citizens will be
asked to participate in a number of ways that will possibly stretch their
paradigm of Burning Man participation. Participants from around the country
will be asked to submit designs to be used for the official BRCPO post card
and an official stamp for the BRCPO. It is possible multiple designs will be
selected, depending on the quality of submittals. This is the first time the
BRCPO has done this.
The "Physical Description" section (section 21) mentioned a separate area for
more "extreme postal service". The reason for this is twofold. First, for many
BRC participants, especially those with less BRC experience, the persona of
the ill-tempered postal worker is so well acted and so seemingly real, BRC
Participants don't leave with the understanding that the interaction is meant
to be a parody. Second, although the BRCPO is considered an adult themed camp,
it is better to separate the consenting adults from the those that wish to
stay away from adult themed activities.
In essence, this year will be just as -- if not more -- interactive as
previous years, but with an emphasis on ensuring that all participants have an
enjoyable and growth-filled experience.
---------------
Fellow Posties, please keep in mind I have as yet to have contact with "the other side". And from my last email, you know I am open to it. Knowing how hectic my own schedule, I do not fault anyone for not contacting me as of yet. If there is interest for any entity or person in contacting me, please call me at 202-669-7274 or email me. I don't think circumstances are beyond repair with our BRCPO family, but then again, sometimes families can't live together.
Love,
~Blue
posted by:
|
Washington, D.C.
|
