2021/9/4 #poetry They put masks on to make themselves look like animals. This really had a great affect on both the dancers and the audience. The dancers felt different in a significant way. There was a subtle change of consciousness. The audience perceived a difference in what they were looking at, it became more alien in a visceral but subtle way. The intensity of the event for all parties was ratcheted up a couple notches, already up from baseline because of the activity. The emotional significance of the event followed suit. It helped that the significance had been expounded upon beforehand. Thoughts, insights, connections occurring during the event were given more account. It felt natural, true, and real if one didn't come in to it with preconceived negative biases. There were cascading positive social effects and enhancements to the group dynamics. I don't think declaring that as a society we have 'advanced beyond that level of understanding' is an accurate way to describe what we've done.