"Plastic Change"

Here is a snippet of my original photography, involving a plastic Obama doll in real situations. Enjoy!

Coachella Sand

It's a few weeks after Coachella, but I love reflecting on my experiences. It was my first time I went to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. I saw my favorite artist, Thom Yorke, up close and personal. His set started at 8:30 PM, but I was at his stage at 4 PM. I enjoyed Pheonix's set right before, and would squeeze myself forward every minute. By the end of Phoenix, I found myself right in the front, directly behind the VIP section.

I saw Jay Z and Beyonce. Kate Hudson showed up. Rev Run came afterwards. Muse was also there. It was a pleasure seeing artists passively enjoying other artists. Jay Z was watching an alternative rock band: this crossed barriers constructed by musical genres, and brought them together. That was the feel of Coachella. People were friendly, they were nice, they were human.

Yes, we used this music festival and desert venue to attract over 70 thousand people from across the world. Yes, people in business suits sitting atop office suites in Downtown LA carefully constructed the details of the festival to attract the most people and manipulate the mind to scarf over $300 and camp out in the desert. Theoretical idios were in full effect, and hegemonic power was invisibly influencing this carefree environment. But no one cared, and that was the beauty of it.

People do not notice the commercialism, the hierarchy, the separation of racial class, or even the overpriced cup of beer. Coachella fans are fans of living a life full of love and unity, of harmony and peace, and if music was used as bait to bring these human values to the forefront, then so be it.