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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   32824 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of February 20, 2023

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Being involved in theater doesn’t make you a theater kid, and you can be a theater kid even if you are not involved at all in theater. I wouldn’t take it too personally.

Do you see yourself as better than others? And wish to impose your beliefs on others? Do you imagine over dramatized revolutions yet oppose gun ownership, and associate fitness with something negative?

It’s the kids who were in high school asking for more homework, tattling on other kids, and sneering at anybody who liked sports. If that was you, then yeah you’re a theater kid.

There are however many right wing and even far right wing artists. Anybody who doubts this should spend some time at burning man interacting with the people building the art there. They’re the most libertarian of libertarians.

I second your definition of theater kid, it didn’t just mean anyone who was in the school play but the clique of people who were extremely into it, and it carries the negative connotations you mentioned. The same way you probably wouldn’t call someone on the cross country team a jock even though they play a sport. It’s also definitely what people mean when they say things like “theater kid occupied government” even if you think theater kid just means someone who did theater.

Sounds like No True Theater Kid to me. Sure is convenient that Dreher was only complaining about the people you don’t like.

It’s the kids who were in high school asking for more homework, tattling on other kids, and sneering at anybody who liked sports. If that was you, then yeah you’re a theater kid

Uhh, I think theater kids are defined by their participation in theater. I don’t have any of these other associations. In fact generally theater kids were not the best students

As for the assertion that libertarian is far right, that kind of proves his point. Libertarians aren’t exactly known for close adherence to tradition, but rather drug experimentation and breaking social norms.

At least at my high school, which granted was small and rural, theater kids were kids who didn't do sports but weren't usually stereotypical nerds either. Most weren't that popular with the opposite sex but they did ok.

We were a small enough school that aside from maybe basketball anyone could join any team, club, or activity at least to participate, but the theater kids might also be in band or choir and that was usually about it.

Hm. I always had the impression that “the odds were good, but the goods were odd.” Theater kids had plenty of relationships and relationship drama.

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There are however many right wing and even far right wing artists. Anybody who doubts this should spend some time at burning man interacting with the people building the art there. They’re the most libertarian of libertarians.

I will first point out that the question of whether or not libertarians are “right-wing” is a very hotly-contested topic, and that I would answer the question with a definitive “no”. Also, when was the last time that any of the art produced at Burning Man made any sort of cultural impact on the general public? I’m certainly not aware of a single example, although I admit that it’s not an area about which I’m very knowledgeable.

I will first point out that the question of whether or not libertarians are “right-wing” is a very hotly-contested topic, and that I would answer the question with a definitive “no”.

Let's start with: what do you consider 'right wing'?

Also, when was the last time that any of the art produced at Burning Man made any sort of cultural impact on the general public? I’m certainly not aware of a single example, although I admit that it’s not an area about which I’m very knowledgeable.

I don't think there is really a way to address this question. In my world, burning man is a massive cultural juggernaut. It defines building/architectural styles, sculpture styles, music styles, clothing styles. It's practically inescapable.

Burning man had its own exhibit in The Smithsonian: https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/burning-man

Hmm, man I'm really at a loss as to how to address your question of what cultural impact burning man has had.

FWIW, I think that says more about your world than the larger cultural one. I'm kind of involved in that sector and burning man is barely on the radar.

We're not in the US, which perhaps plays something of a role, but BM seems more known for drugs, garage creative, and rich folk cosplaying as creative.

I agree there's a lot of creativity there, but I don't think it's made it out much into the larger world.

Really depends on how we judge what "burning man art" is. A lot of incredibly famous musicians have gone out there and play sets, as attendees. I don't know if they even pay artists to show up, i know they didn't when i was more aware of that scene but i wouldn't hazard a guess anymore. Tons of people that work on movies and videogames and esoteric AI powered VR DMT simulators go. I havent been keeping current, but i watched video of Skrillex playing at a sound camp there from before he won a grammy.

Point being, the cumulative attendees of burningman might be the most wide reaching and impactful group of artists in the world. Like, if you don't think that scene has had a notable impact on culture over the last 20 years i wonder what you would point to as being influential.

In your defense however, i will say that most notable burningman attendees don't really advertise their time there, so not being aware of how many influential people have attended is pretty easy to excuse.

(i don't know why i'm even defending burningman, its a hollowed out husk of a super cool party)

Are you trying to redefine "theatre kid" to be purely pejorative? Please don't.

I have never heard this term used as anything other than a pejorative. I've only really understood this term to basically be the teenage version of the "karen" archetype.

And I've never heard it used to mean anything other than "a kid who is into theatre". I think your understanding is way off base, but I'll concede that it's anecdote vs anecdote here unless someone has something more substantial.

To me, it primarily means "a young person really into theatre". For example, I think the OP meant this sense of the word above when they were describing themselves.

There's definitely parts of the Glee fandom that are either trying to reclaim the concept or just started under the assumption is what in-group.

I feel like actual kids involved in theaters have used it in a more playful way, the same way band kids will joke about being "band kids."

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