DIY Commune: A Utopian Social Experiment

Summer Commune is a diverse, temporary, intentional community which uses social media to bring creative people from virtual spaces into a physical location (Moscow, Idaho, in 2012). For 2 months attendees collaborate & work independently to create new art, new media, new technology, & new ideas for a new society. To start a Summer Commune is to materialize the virtual. This community could revolutionize the way people interact with work, place, communication, and fun in the 21st century. We'll look at its successes & its failures, and its potential for growth and social change. The talent in the community we build over each summer could incubate the next stellar start-up, be an opportunity to meet future coworkers, or inspire the next band, novel, web series, or film. We hope that Summer Commune proves another world is possible, and that the alternative can be freeing and just as much fun. This project is in flux, constantly looking for new collaborators, storytellers, and iterations.

Additional Supporting Materials

http://www.slideshare.net/joshuaheller/summer-commune

http://summercommune.com

Questions Answered

Summer Commune differs from most people's understanding of communes. How did the qualities that make Summer Commune unique (living autonomously, its temporality, its location) develop, and how did these contribute to the project's success?
Why is Summer Commune financially advantageous for individuals, businesses, local economies, and the world-at-large?
What were the challenges of building this community, both online and then IRL?
How have tools of the social media revolution aided the preparation, distribution, implementation, and success of this project? Could this "Commune 2.0" have existed without Craigslist, Facebook, Google, Instagram, etc.?
Part of the project is addressing the persisting narrative of Americans who want change, who want a greater sense of community and a better quality of life in the 21st century. How is Summer Commune relevant to these ongoing political & socioeconomic discussions?