Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
-
- Posts: 418
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:57 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Camp Settle This Like Men
Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
Was Gilligans' Island a Cargo Cult? Did the professors' devices ever work, or did the castaways enter into group psychosis and believe he could summon battery power with coconuts? Was Skipper eventually sacrificed like Piggy in a Lord of the Flies devolution, or was he elevated like Hurley? For that matter, was Lost a Cargo Cult? Did Star Trek steal Gilligans' red shirt as sacrificial lamb concept?
The handbasket to hell is leaving. Hop in world!
- tatonka
- Posts: 3524
- Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:28 pm
- Burning Since: 2013
- Camp Name: Camp Threat
- Location: oregon
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
As a kid I loved that bamboo car gilligan drove around 

Tales told
Of battles won
Of things we've done
Caligula would grin
Of battles won
Of things we've done
Caligula would grin
- trilobyte
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16910
- Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:54 pm
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Brainy Bar
- Location: San Francisco
- Contact:
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
No it wasn't. Being stranded on an island and making stuff out of found/scavenged objects isn't what makes a cargo cult. The show was about the castaways, and aside from an odd episode or two they didn't have any worshippers. Cargo cult is about the indigenous people who become worshippers. Had there been a spinoff show about a tribe that found their "advanced" gizmos and set up shrines at their old campsite or on the beach where the Minnow ran aground… THAT would have been a cargo cult. 

-
- Posts: 418
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:57 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Camp Settle This Like Men
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
Really, Trilo? Really? They weren't native, but weren't they trying to reconstruct a society and technology they didn't really understand in hopes of attracting the Cargo (rescue was the cargo, a return to their old lives the bounty). Much of what they did seemed implausible and ridiculous, attempts to effect a wealth and technology transfer by mimicking a more advanced civilization? Aren't all cargo cults trying to achieve a level of prosperity and comfort that seems mystical? go!
The handbasket to hell is leaving. Hop in world!
- Captain Goddammit
- Posts: 8502
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:34 am
- Burning Since: 2000
- Camp Name: First Camp
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
I think it's an interesting viewpoint. Gilligan's Island's people were from the land where the "cargo" comes from, they weren't mystified and bewildered by it like a primitive culture might be... so in that sense, they aren't quite what this year's theme means.
But on the other hand, it's like someone who converts to another religion; they weren't always a primitive tribe but they became one and ended up being somewhat a "cargo cult".
If that argument can be made, this year I could re-christen my vessel "Minnow" and get me a tilley hat
But on the other hand, it's like someone who converts to another religion; they weren't always a primitive tribe but they became one and ended up being somewhat a "cargo cult".
If that argument can be made, this year I could re-christen my vessel "Minnow" and get me a tilley hat

GreyCoyote: "At this rate it wont be long before he is Admiral Fukkit."
- Ugly Dougly
- Posts: 17611
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
- Burning Since: 1996
- Location: เชียงใหม่
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
It's about more than a tropical island, just as The Floating World was not just about Japan.
Dig deeper.
Dig deeper.
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
Whether or not Gilligan's Island was a cargo cult, it would make a great theme for a camp.
The camp with a difference
Never mind the weather
When you camp with Plug & Ply
Your holiday's forever
Never mind the weather
When you camp with Plug & Ply
Your holiday's forever
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
I think the original 7 Castaways were not a cargo cult...However let's assume that Gilligan continues to fuck everything up. (That guy, right?!)
Eventually they're going to go get around to goin' down to bonin' town. Assuming that Mary-Ann and Ginger have a bunch of babies, their kids, or their kids kids, might begin to come up with some distorted ideas of what is on those ships that Great-Grandpa Gilligan keeps accidentally sinking/turning away.
However, they'd likely be a Cargo Cargo Cult Cult, all building giant fetishes of coconuts out of ...coconuts.
So I guess, Gilligan's Island + Time = Possible Cargo Cult.
Eventually they're going to go get around to goin' down to bonin' town. Assuming that Mary-Ann and Ginger have a bunch of babies, their kids, or their kids kids, might begin to come up with some distorted ideas of what is on those ships that Great-Grandpa Gilligan keeps accidentally sinking/turning away.
However, they'd likely be a Cargo Cargo Cult Cult, all building giant fetishes of coconuts out of ...coconuts.
So I guess, Gilligan's Island + Time = Possible Cargo Cult.
- trilobyte
- Site Admin
- Posts: 16910
- Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:54 pm
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Brainy Bar
- Location: San Francisco
- Contact:
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
[I just realized I'd missed this before. I'm giving the thread a nudge over to the theme board since that's a better fit for theme discussion.]
Really, uncle sticky, really. They weren't mimicking a car (or worshipping it) in hopes that some great hope from the sky would come back and bring them gifts and happiness… they were making the coconut car (and other trappings of their former lives) for utility (in the case of the car, transportation). It was a convenience while they were making do on the island, and a part of the tv sitcom's schtick. No part of what the castaways were doing was worship or could be construed as a religion, could it?
Cargo is stuff and things. Rescue is more like exodus and salvation ("take me to heaven, oh lord"). Even if the castaways worshipped that coconut car or any other thing they built (which they did not) or if they prayed regularly for rescue (which they did not - Sherwood Schwartz sitcoms were good like that), simply praying for something doesn't make it a cargo cult in my opinion. That doesn't mean that Gilligan's Island wasn't a great show, and if you want to draw inspiration from it (either visually or conceptually) for something you want to build on the playa don't let that stop you.
Really, uncle sticky, really. They weren't mimicking a car (or worshipping it) in hopes that some great hope from the sky would come back and bring them gifts and happiness… they were making the coconut car (and other trappings of their former lives) for utility (in the case of the car, transportation). It was a convenience while they were making do on the island, and a part of the tv sitcom's schtick. No part of what the castaways were doing was worship or could be construed as a religion, could it?
Cargo is stuff and things. Rescue is more like exodus and salvation ("take me to heaven, oh lord"). Even if the castaways worshipped that coconut car or any other thing they built (which they did not) or if they prayed regularly for rescue (which they did not - Sherwood Schwartz sitcoms were good like that), simply praying for something doesn't make it a cargo cult in my opinion. That doesn't mean that Gilligan's Island wasn't a great show, and if you want to draw inspiration from it (either visually or conceptually) for something you want to build on the playa don't let that stop you.
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
John Frum.
He comes.
He brings Globetrotters.
He comes.
He brings Globetrotters.
- Corvus
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:22 pm
- Burning Since: 2009
- Camp Name: Poly Paradise
- Location: Mesa, Arizona
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
I rather prefer this interpretation of Gilligan's Island:
http://www.sff.net/people/adam-troy/random/theories.htm
http://www.sff.net/people/adam-troy/random/theories.htm
- Eric
- Moderator
- Posts: 9360
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 9:45 pm
- Burning Since: 2003
- Camp Name: BRC Weekly
- Contact:
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
I almost didn't read it because I hate the way the text runs to the margins of the browser, but, goddam, that was funny!Corvus wrote:I rather prefer this interpretation of Gilligan's Island:
http://www.sff.net/people/adam-troy/random/theories.htm
It's a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world - Cryptofishist
Eric ShutterSlut
Former Ass't Editor & columnist, BRC Weekly
Eric ShutterSlut
Former Ass't Editor & columnist, BRC Weekly
-
- Posts: 418
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:57 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Camp Settle This Like Men
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
okay, I'm on board with that explanation
The handbasket to hell is leaving. Hop in world!
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
This is my favorite take-away.six ruthless drug mugglers
Don't talk to those guys. They're drug mugglers.
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
I agree with the previous four posters. Do we have consensus?
The Lady with a Lamprey
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
- unjonharley
- Posts: 10387
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:05 am
- Burning Since: 2001
- Camp Name: Elliot's naked bycycel repair
- Location: Salem Or.
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
cargo cultist make things a offering for/to the dog's..
Burning man and gilligans island makes shit to play with ..
Burning man and gilligans island makes shit to play with ..
- maryanimal
- Posts: 4030
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:41 am
- Burning Since: 2011
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
unjonharley wrote:cargo cultist make things a offering for/to the dog's..
Burning man and gilligans island makes shit to play with ..
...and shit to burn...
Sometimes I'm confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn't obvious.
- Ugly Dougly
- Posts: 17611
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:31 am
- Burning Since: 1996
- Location: เชียงใหม่
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
What the fuck, it's Burning Man, nobody really cares. Wear a pair of coconut shells on your boobs.
- Simon of the Playa
- Posts: 20642
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:25 pm
- Burning Since: 1996
- Camp Name: La Guilde des Hashischins
- Location: BRC, Nevada.
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
.
- Attachments
-
- 2447022492_95debd31a2.jpg (80.48 KiB) Viewed 6663 times
Frida Be You & Me
- Sundial
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:51 pm
- Burning Since: 2010
- Camp Name: Synapse Conduit
- Location: Kanuckistan
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
mind = blown
"I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. I will face my fear. I will let it pass through me. Where the fear has gone, there shall be nothing. Only I will remain."
- graidawg
- Posts: 3180
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:50 am
- Burning Since: 2011
- Camp Name: CAMP Hooker
- Contact:
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
theCryptofishist wrote:I agree with the previous four posters. Do we have consensus?
NEVER! THIS IS EPLAYA WE MUST ARGUE UNTIL THE DEAD HORSE GIF HAS BEEN POSTED
FREE THE SHERPAS
Burners with torches is right and natural and just.-fishy.
CATCH AND RELEASE.
Burners with torches is right and natural and just.-fishy.
CATCH AND RELEASE.
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
Re: Gilligans' Island=Cargo Cult
Video is kind of like a dead horse...
[media]
The Lady with a Lamprey
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri