SXSWhaaaa?
SXSW is taking place right now, I know because every scamming, party-humping promoter is blogging about twittering about seeing what everyone is talking about. As the tidal wave of trivial information seeps into every email and social networking profile we solicit, the drunken, camera phone equipped Internet chatter only seems to alienate me from the collective experience of every BBQ and clever stencil in Austin’s sweaty streets.
Perspective is necessary to turn trivialities into context; without it, every text-fed update of “went to bathroom and ran into Benny from ______ ” (some random band) does not paint help paint a cohesive picture, it just seems like more feedback in a festival of amps. While we at SOAP have our own set of events and festivals we favor, we understand the importance of participating in these cultural endeavors first hand, not risking inadequate understanding of our generation’s indulgences care of the skittish minds of culturally-wired youth.
Which brings us to our next “must,” a triumph of corporate philanthropy and grassroots weirdness, The Red Bull FlugTag. A team will be fashioned, a structure will be built, and goddamnit, a beautiful story will be crafted to carry every reader through it. Sure, there’s no pulled pork sandwiches, record label showcases or emerging social media, but can any of that compare to people trying to fly?
