TEDxVancouver - Jeet Kei Leung - Transformational Festivals

[mangialone]

I am so glad I stumbled onto this!! Thanks to Jeet Kei Leung for a well explained, eloquent and meaningful presentation!

[gotomah]

whaaat?!!?

this is capitalist democracy doing it again:

Absorbing underground cultures to turn them into a fashionable thing, squeeze all possible form it before going for the "next big thing".

...and to do that, it obviously needs to be stereotyped so "we" can be targeted, great!!

[tapirus1]

It used to be about just dancing to good music. Now it's "transformational" and visionary art masters in the middle of the desert?

Smells like someone figured out how to lure rich hippies to the psytrance raves and started to make money off them.

[johnnydisco68]

To the speaker: Thank you for articulating, everything you said, so eloquently. Very excellent.

[TransitionPittsburgh]

wow !

[OnyxPhoenix]

No - not everyone does drugs at these events. Enough people do drugs however, that it has become a stereotype of this scene. Going there and being offered drugs or selling drugs is not unusual.

[AsylumSeaker]

The explorers of the entheogens can be thought of as a strongly integrated / interwoven, but distinct subculture within the festival scene. Not everyone uses the substances, and not all who do use them in a 'serious' way.. however, there are many, many people who take them with spiritual, artistic or exploratory intent and these people have their own community which extends beyond the festivals.

Perhaps one day someone else will give a TED talk specifically about that culture.. we can dream.

[AsylumSeaker]

One negative thing I gotta say, this dude needs to lay off the grass if he thinks the west coast of USA invented these festivals, hah!

[steveBB30]

I'm somewhat puzzled why all the emphasis on this being recent and coming out of rave culture. Hawkwind's space ritual? The Who's Lifehouse project? Good that it's happening again.

[AsylumSeaker]

@steveBB30 This is different.

[steveBB30]

@AsylumSeaker Yes it is different but to me it seems to be only in a Ship of Theseus way.different people, different art. different music. All labels people largely impose on themselves. I feel it's the behaviour and what people put in/get out of attending that matters. Is the behaviour really that much different?

[AsylumSeaker]

@steveBB30 Sure, but in that sense it was the same for the things that went on in the 60's and 70's with hawkwind and such. Ripples from the same splash somewhere deep in time.

But I think the new thing is different in a new way.. It's sustainable. Everyone in it looks back at the 60's and knows it eventually kind of 'failed'.. they don't want that to happen again.

[greatruaha1]

Really enjoyed this talk, have experienced the magic on many occasions and enjoyed your perspective on the movement!

[miriaminthemidwest]

Jeet Kei - your two final questions are exactly what I'm doing my MA on! Please let's talk!

[athyra23]

Read TAZ by Hakim Bey and make your own festival 

[kermitstar]

Why couldn't I find this on TED's website? Weird...

[danielhall65]

fuck jeet you are trippimg me focus me too like a focus group.

[pooflonk]

Check out this mix I made after a summer of these Transformational Festivals.... I incorporated a bunch of this speech throughout it :)

Enjoy, and thanks for the good words!

soundcloud . com/ spry-bry / the-swing-o-things-mix-free

[Pianofy]

His message would be more effective if he wouldn't act so pretentious.

[TheKgb219]

I was very grateful that the drugs weren't mentioned in this video because not everyone does drugs and they still have fabulous experiences. It is the drug stereotype that keeps many people from being a part of this life changing experience. So sad in my opinion as it has so much more as he discusses.

[Loony0Bin]

@TheKgb219 It's a shame that people don't want to come out. Yes the drug use gets a bit messy with the odd person but usually far less so than people drunk out on the town. I've been with and without drugs, it's the people, music and surroundings that make the amazing experience. Some like to take drugs, others don't, it's a personal choice. All I'll say is if you're so messed up that other people are being negatively affected by your actions, you're just as much a part of the problem as anyone.

[Loony0Bin]

By the way in Australia we call it doofing.

It changed my life, and the lives of many people I know.

Everyone should experience it once.

[Loony0Bin]

@Loony0Bin God I'm so sorry to keep commenting but nearing the end of this seminar, I am so moved I'm nearly in tears. This is something that is so close to my heart and he's just expressing it so articulately and beautifully.

[sundnceSA]

"The music is our ocean" and the dance is our vehicle!! The rest is a choice and I personally would like to see a world where the psychedelics are no longer a major feature at these events - where we express & gain ecstatic heights through modern techno tribal music and dance alone - where we are that evolved! I think our ancestors would be proud!

[playawizard]

Certainly wish that Jeet would come out to Source on Maui or Alchemeyz on the Big Island as we have been involved in the ever evolving movement of culture. I invite you..

[jpotts3]

start up at 7:00, I suggest, and watch from there.

[MyceliaProductions42]

Why is everyone frightened of psychedelics? The unveiling of uncomfortable truths about oneself and one's actions in this world can be a very, very unsettling thing...but it leads to a brighter day in the end...I promise. :)

[matthewpai]

Excellent Talk here . I think though that he missed an important componant to mention. Perhaps it would be too much of an association to affiliate these events to perhaps the birth of it all. Joseph Cambell indeed refered to this as a tribal communal spiritual event ...... The Grateful Dead first catalyzed this experience .... and was certainly the largest dance culure ever . This talk really does an excellent job encapsulating the emerging spiritual culture .

[Brezelhaus]

Jeet-Kei adresses some of the comments here and people flag his comments as spam? Come on youtubers, how low are you?

[barrykulmann]

yes the drugs are there, but remember that they are temporary shortcuts, borrowed for a time, to what can be realized as a daily experience thru other practices. Youth use mostly their eyes to 'know' the world, and as we get older, the other senses share even more.......He is spot on!

[barrykulmann]

he nails it! grateful!

[HIHIMIII56]

Very Good! Well spoken!

[hannahfraser]

Beautiful Jeet.. thank you so much for your eloquent expression of our culture :)

[maxirooms]

I stand with what @Crayolahalls posted ...

[maddave83]

He works for the drug selling industry. Shouldn’t TEDx have at least mentioned this?

watch?v=pQgsCeuFu_M

[thePLURblogs]

This is wonderful. very well explained and thought out. words fittingly poetic to describe a culture that continues to be the most important aspect of my life. as for the conments below about the lack of commentary on 'the drugs' psychedelics are a catalyst that some find is necessary to break free of the limitations imprinted upon us by society. because of the churches banning of dancing as he covered its been embedded in our brains through media and sociopolitics that what we do out there in

[ExzoML]

Good discussion w/ good beginning topic. The inclusion of entheogenic/psychedelic drugs as influencing factor (and let's not forget alcohol), would overshadow/discredit the larger emphasis this speaker is making: the rapid emergence of an influential new culture largely yet unknown by mainstream society at large. This excellent presentation is like Chapter One: Rise of the New Community - Art, Music and Spirit. Chapter two: The Community of Individual - Participation, Expression and Drugs.

[lizjayvid]

(pt.2) Time was limited for this talk and I get you couldn't cover everything but the organizers of many of these festivals are from the roots of and had experienced these other events they just work in the music of the current subculture.

As far as enthogens are concerned I agree they play a major roll in the transformative experience for many at festivals but an even more important aspect is participation. The deeper one commits to the event the more they get out of it.

[lizjayvid]

I enjoyed this talk but have one complaint, The west coast was already ripe with a rich festival culture that revolved around participation, not just music. Oregon Country Fair with parades, pathway performers, artisans, vaudville and costumes is possibly the oldest. The culture of barter fairs with all night drum circles, dancing and late night picks was strong long before electronic music. Of course one can not forget Rainbow Festival and its regional events.

[thomasrealdance]

Barbara Ehrenreich wrote wonderfully about getting together to celebrate, and what happens when one suppresses this. I'm in great disagreement with a lot said in this talk, and it's way of delivery, by the way!

[owen420]

shambhala music festival is the safest place in the world.

[jlilith]

@c3bhm and others Maybe drugs aren't part of the experience for him. Drugs aren't necessary for the transformational experience. I agree they're a big part of it and should probably have been mentioned. I've danced exstatically all night without the aid of drugs and felt the better for it the next day. That's what disco naps are for.

[maddave83]

Making connections were you shouldn’t make them (e.g. religion) and forgetting them where you shoul have made them (e.g. drugs).

There have been a few embarrassing Ted talks. Too bad. Hope they’ll be more selective in the future as they were in the beginning.

One final thing, why not show a video and let some music play, and shut up for a couple of seconds. At least than two thirds of the room knew what you were talking about.

[idealjetsam]

It's the same message that harks back to '89: "Techno Unites"

But there should have been a lot of music accompanying this talk. A lot.

[elleAnnF]

Of course there are drugs at these festivals, but I think it's pretty ignorant to assume that drugs are the central factor in people's enjoyment and experience. If you have seen the art at a festival like Burning Man, you should have some indication as to the planning, execution, money, time, blood, sweat and tears that go into each project. It's insulting to the creators of these forms of art to spread the false message that it's all about drugs.

[Telkwa2010]

Well done talk, Jeet~~~and I've been to a number of these events and places~~ but lordy that spaceship part was just plain dumb and offensive. These are not children you are addressing.

[motioneccentrica]

haha i respect what this guy is doing, but he is so lame.

[shlecky]

this guys done too many drugs... NO WONDER HE DIDNT MENTION THEM!

[MYQTTV]

garbage. this guy is probably strung out.

[izoflame]

Interesting; while I appreciate his take on this subculture (of which I consider myself a part, along with "mainstream" and other spiritual seekers), I think he reads waaay too much into electronic dance music. I get that he approaches it as a unifying, we-are-all-one-tribe, we're-building-a-whole-new-wor­ld-by-dancing-all-night-and-bo­nding dynamic, but there are plenty of people who attend these festivals who don't, and I know plenty of both. It's broader and deeper. But this is a valid part

[izoflame]

Interesting; while I appreciate his take on this subculture (of which I consider myself a part, along with "mainstream" and other spiritual seekers), I think he reads waaay too much into electronic dance music. I get that he approaches it as a unifying, we-are-all-one-tribe, we're-building-a-whole-new-wor­ld-by-dancing-all-night-and-bo­nding dynamic, but there are plenty of people who attend these festivals who don't, and I know plenty of both. It's broader and deeper. But this is a valid part.

[c3bhm]

Ridiculously uncool to not honor the profound role/presence of entheogenic/psychedelic drugs at these festivals. They are perhaps the single biggest factor in what shapes the experience and behavior. And you don't even mention it? What the heck is that? Leaving out that massive facet of the reality you're describing is totally non-authentic and irresponsible.

[jeetkei]

Hi c3bhm: I agree that the influence of entheogens in festival culture is profound. Disagree that they are “the single biggest factor”. Given that the most common stereotype used to dismiss the culture is assumption that everything is drug-induced, what's important to inform people outside the culture of is that all the amazingness that is in these festivals stands independent of use of intoxicants, visionary or otherwise. Plenty of people participate without imbibing anything…

[c3bhm]

@jeetkei I've been to Burning Man/Beloved/Earthdance/etc. multiple times, and the single biggest contributing/sponsoring factor to the activities and behaviors there IS drugs. Marijuana, mushrooms, LSD, DMT, etc. Take those away and you'd be left with a FRACTION of the creativity/participation. Yes, there are many folks who don't use anything, but they are the minority.  You delegitimize drugs by 'hiding' such a key factor. You should be trumpeting their healthy use, so TED squares LEARN.

[smashjoker]

@c3bhm I think the drugs is part of the most festivals and partys, but is no the point of it

[roblord]

@c3bhm aren't the drugs (at best) just a catalyst? his narrative arc doesn't rely on catalysts -- he's goes much deeper than that. frankly, I appreciate that didn't obscure his narrative with catalysts.

[c3bhm]

@roblord The drugs are not just some technical/dismissable 'catalyst' unless you'd also say that about the music. The 2 biggest factors are the music and the drugs. Both of which contribute hugely to the transcendent/togetherness/comm­union/ecstatic experience for most of the people who are deeply engaged/contributing with/to the real magic. I suspect he was 'hiding' the profound degree of illegal behavior being critically important from the mainstream TED audience's sensibilities. Shameful.

[SoulJuiceTV]

@c3bhm .... not all artists and creators take drugs to channel n create.... i feel it ridiculously uncool of u to think they do

[lucasabu]

@SoulJuiceTV He's not saying they do, he's saying that entheogenic substances are a big part of these festivals (which is true in a way) and that it should be talked about. Not everyone does, you don't need to, but it's there and it has a big influence on the festivals.

[SoulJuiceTV]

@lucasabu sure i hear u, & agree, my comment was geared 4 the peeps who "blanket judge" these festivals, & my point is, some folks do & some folks dont, influence comes in many forms, some from meditation, from knitting, from plants and some from chemicals.... in all, if its kind n wise, its good, if it splits and fragments the spirit & ungrounds the spirit, then its another story. and i speak from extensive experience of festivals, drugs, healings & more :)

[dubmango]

@SoulJuiceTV Its true that not all artists require these drugs to create art at these festivals, but I think its naive to not at least recognize the role that they play. By mentioning it, it doesn't imply that EVERYONE involved falls into this category, but there are MANY that do. Especially since drugs are often viewed by the mainstream as an escape, it would be nice to show the positive role that drugs like this place in allowing deeper creativity to be unleashed.

[SoulJuiceTV]

@dubmango yes of course, that goes without saying .... :D

[crayolahalls]

@c3bhm Psychedelics definitely a piece of the festivals, but the connections to ancient culture are not dependent on drugs to be felt or expressed or experienced. I think McKenna made the same mistake to assume what he was calling the "archaic revival" necessitated the use of drugs. The drugs are there, and they certainly work as catalysts to help start the process, but the experience is not dependent upon them.

[nanashiakina]

@c3bhm i have been going to these festivals/parties sense I was 14 I have NEVER done drugs at ANY of them Grow up this is not wood stock in the 60's

[artoutside]

@nanashiakina what does wood stock in the 60's have to do with now? Why do people use that as a example. I would argue that we are so far beyond 60's when it comes to drug usage in this country. IE more people are doing drugs than ever before....

[sentientstill]

@c3bhm He may have been trying to respect the privacy and safety of the festivals, being a presentation to the mainstream, so cops and scared folk don't over-react and do something stupid. But yes, they are certainly a huge part of them and of our existence.

[andskippertoo]

@c3bhm probably doesnt want to turn people off before they get there...

[marusia949]

@c3bhm He just wasn't talking about that aspect as much... and it wasn't the right audience for it. What he was saying could have easily included drugs and things in the meaning, he just didn't explicitly say it.

[seandevega]

@c3bhm it's a profoundly assailable facet of our counterculture. we do well, I feel, to elide it. think tactics, man, tactics.

[AsylumSeaker]

@c3bhm While I agree that entheogenic practice is a big part of the culture, I suspect that Jeet Kei Leung here simply felt tact was important for communication with 'the mainstream'.. or to put it another way he felt he couldn't discuss the use of entheogens with a culture that still considers them illegal, dangerous escape substances and does not yet have the right climate of thought to understand or embrace the idea.. not to mention he was at a conference that wouldn't allow it.

[wam1001]

We are in the process of a major shift in conciousness. There are people that are going to move forward and some that will have a hard time with that shift (judging by some of the comments on this video). Good work, Jeet!

[1Reilly2Enns3]

smhamamamaiiieei cool veedeeoo guyz im high its cool.

[marcandrebenoit]

westcoast biased :)

all these things were done and lived and experienced back in the early '90's as well

on the canadian east coast (montreal ottawa quebec toronto )

really cute to explain it to people though :)

[16TheFranchise16]

SHAMBHALA = D!

[calaisjoao]

this is wonderfull

[OtisThePianist]

This is so incredible! Humans evolving! Happy SHAMBHALA everyone, and may God bless us as we travel into this bright and exciting future!

[CliveSinclairZX]

<3

[kimberlykins]

LOVES :)



[inDidgeinUs]

Thank you Jeet AKA DJ Maze Guider! He hit on some very important and thought provoking points... This "Transformational Festival Culture" is truly the cutting edge of our Western, urban, materialist culture. However, there is SO MUCH MORE that was not touched upon! I am surprised that academics are not flocking to study this exceptionally rich and dynamic culture. For anyone who has never been to such an event, do your self a favor and GO!

[armyofflowers]

DavidSnooWilson - Nothing makes this not "real" in its presentation. It's not offered empirically, with scientifically styled evidence, but the points and very existence of the cultures being spoken of, stand for themselves. Thank you to this man for bringing them awareness. If you want a social study done by an anthropologist, look elsewhere online. This, however, seems not cheap but heart felt and does display very well the complexity of the cultures.

[munder1316]

hey you forgot wakarusa

[munder1316]

festivals = home

[DavidSnooWilson]

Makes shallow of something of great depths. If these cultures ever want real respect need to not be represented by space cadet. There are real things to speak of hear political/anthropological etc etc, but all that was shown hear was a cheap representation of a vast and complicated culture.

[JCKANGA]

This is a life style preparing us for the world changes and receive divine connection...

[zendoogle]

Thank you Jeet for so eloquently describing this culture! Best Ted Talk EVER!

[Eklypz]

Although I cringe at the definitions and the commodification of the culture, was a great academic talk!

[monadnomad]

This is exactly what we talk about in ELECTRONIC AWAKENING, an ethnographic documentary Film which investigates the spirituality and mysticism of the Electronic Dance Music Culture.

electronicawakening(dot)com

[angrykorean]

+ <3 ~ positive love vibrations

[chillmanthe3]

We are one tribe. (^8

....and I think it is far more than rave 2.0.

Raves were more about partying when I went. This tribal community we have now has a lot more depth and sustainability in my opinion.

[chillmanthe3]

We are one tribe. (^8

[Muzzy337]

Freakshow. 

[daizend]

amazing talk! now i understand... what i was craving for however is how we connect these learnings to all the other aspects of our lives; work, politics, response-abilities, struggles, ...

[satsi23]

Actually, Wicked from San Francisco predates Moontribe LA and Tribal Harmonix. Kinda crazy he missed that...

[Johnnybenow1]

Sounds like somebody needs to go to a festival and let out some steam and dance all night!

Great summary of our west coast culture...thanks so much for researching and bringing together all the interesting points you have shared! these gathering have assisted profoundly in my personal and spiritual growth...so much gratitude!!!

Earthdance 2011 here I come!!!

[smokydave]

this guy is possibly the worst TED speaker i've ever heard, and it doesn't surprise he's with Tribal Harmonix.. Flakey idiot 101.. nobody ever did an outdoor festival before it hit BC!! We invented dancing on grass!! wow, read a book idiot.

[Swordline]

@draer0n this is actual faqs, why put it as spam?

[draer0n]

While the talk is very interesting, but west coast didn't invent outdoor festivals. They in their current setup started more in the late 80s in goa.

[bethannodwell]

WOW! Beautiful job Jeet! Sooooo proud of you! This was just phenomenal. More! More! MORE! <3

[Domestic8dSasquatch]

Modern vision quest..... Next level vision quest.

Beautiful, Jeet Kei. Thank you

[alanialuvzu]

Thank you for this Jeet Kei.

[crazydave303]

Is it not just rave 2.0?

[dariusjaeger]

AHO!!

[He1iconia]

Wow, excellent talk on such an elusive, esoteric, yet important topic. Having been to many of these festivals you describe, I can attest that your description and analysis of them is very accurate, and I want to thank you for doing them justice and giving our culture proper respect. Too often is this culture and these events misunderstood and misrepresented, causing dismissal by the mainstream. I think your presentation is more poetic (you've done a lot of spoken word, yes?) than the usual

[He1iconia]

academic flavor of TED talks. And while I'd be interested to learn more about this from an academic perspective (anthropology studies, etc), I think your way of expressing this topic is a breath of fresh air and TED could use some more artistic and emotive talks. :)

[amoration]

Space crafter and worldmaker here, also a network weaver and lover of this video...well done.

[bborges79]

Very well presented, thanks a lot! Unfortunately I suspect most people outside the realm of these festivals won't be able to fully understand the message Jeet is delivering, even though he did a great presentation. Explaining these experiences seems like explaining the color "white" to a blind person, it gets really tricky.

[maukahale]

absolutely excellent thesis!!! this is SO on point on SO many levels, take note: Jeet has just identified a major step in human consciousness development here... bravo, a pleasure to know you brother