Burning Man is an annual festival that celebrates—and encourages—extremely uncivilized behavior. One part counter-culture and one part perversion, it’s a mind-bending mix of obscenity, drugs, orgies, and strange art. Basically, if it’s vulgar, Burning Man welcomes it.
There’s offensive, which some argue should be allowed, and then there’s truly disgusting and dangerous. They crossed the line with an outrageous display of anti-Semitism. An “artist” (and I say that in quotes because this is not art), who claims to be Jewish, created a display that depicts a Barbie Concentration Camp. It features hundreds of nude dolls entering kitchen ovens as GI Joe dolls hold them at gunpoint.
A sign above it claims that the installation was created by “Mattel and Auschwitz Inc., Purveyors of Fine Lampshades and Soap Products Since 1939.” (Mattel, of course, had nothing to do with this nonsense and the toy company has been defamed. I hope they sue!)
The display was so offensive that a handful of event goers attempted to destroy it and threatened the artist as well. An argument ensued, someone’s car was vandalized and an arrest was made.
Mr. Jacoby (the artist) claims to be mystified at the outrage. “Anyone who is offended should ignore it,” adding that he considered the repulsive display to be an “aphrodisiac,” demonstrating that he’s mentally ill and disturbed sexually.
Burning Man organizers should be ashamed of themselves to peddle such filth! I would never, ever attend such a weirdo, nasty event to begin with, but this level of anti-Semitism is criminal.
Don’t go, don’t let your kids go, and hopefully, this nightmare will end up bankrupt.
I’m not someone who’s automatically against art because it’s provocative or controversial, but context and intent matter and in this instance there’s absolutely no intellectual, political, or moral engine driving this display, just an infantile desire to be crude and offensive, so it definitely gets a thumbs down from me.
If art pushes the line in a way to provoke a positive reaction, I’m ok with that, even if I don’t agree with it. I do not approve of so-called art that’s only intention is to be negative, offensive, and destructive. Mocking the Holocaust is just taboo for me – I see no humor there!
Like the above poster, I am not automatically offended by art, although this does cross lines. IF the art had some redeeming factor such as a message to remember or not repeat (which it sounds as if it lacked) it would be different.
I honestly have never been to Burning Man, although have heard it has turned into something much different in recent years than it had started as. Now it is even more crazy. I do hope they think before putting up some of the ‘art’ .
“Redeeming factors” are the key words. How does this exhibit uplift society? Does it make anyone feel good? Does it inspire? NO! It’s crude and offensive just to be abusive. That’s not art to me.
Festivals just aren’t what they use to be! FILTH!
Were they ever good? Just saying…