Burning Man LIVE Stuart Mangrum’s Serious Philosophy of Shenanigans
Mar 16, 2022
Stuart Mangrum, Director of the Burning Man Project’s Philosophical Center and a veteran of the Cacophony Society, dives deep into his eclectic journey through Burner culture. He shares wild stories from early Black Rock City, including publishing the Black Rock Gazette and crafting absurd themes like the Church of the Ham. Stuart also humorously tackles conspiracies, reflecting on his military background and survival training. Through it all, he emphasizes the principles of decommodification and the transformative spirit of the playa.
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The Proud F In Philosophy Class
- Stuart failed a college philosophy class after writing a hedonistic personal credo, which the professor dismissed as 'not a philosophy.'
- He kept the 'proud F' and later embraced practical philosophy at Burning Man despite that grade.
Church Of The Ham Shenanigan
- Stuart and friends formed the tongue-in-cheek Church of the Ham after finding a giant vintage canned ham in an estate stash.
- They staged ham-oracle events but never recruited real converts; bacon remains the true playa cult.
Themes As Creative Springboards
- Themes like Multiverse are creative metaphors, offering artists metaphorical freedom rather than literal prediction.
- Stuart saw theme-writing as a playful springboard that invites diverse artistic interpretations.
