What Inspired Flight Club And Urban Exploration

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Have you ever felt like breaking rules or taking risks and maybe doing something illegal once in a while? Well today, we talk about about ‘Urban Exploring’ or ‘Urbex’ and a few (in)famous societies. According to Wikipedia, urban exploring can include physical danger, if done without permission or illegally – assures punishment. Some of these activities break local or regional rules and even some anti-terrorism laws.

Is that an image of San Francisco? Yes, it is. Why? Because the first modern Urbex society was formed in secret, in San Francisco, called the Suicide Club. Disclaimer: it had nothing to do with suicide, please read ahead. Founded by Gary Warne and three of his friends, in 1977, it lasted till shortly before his death in 1983. Their events were held in Warne’s paperback store called, Circus of the Soul.

In 1986, the remaining members of the Suicide Club, formed another society called the Cacophony Society – a randomly gathered network of free spirits united in the pursuit of experiences beyond the pale of mainstream society. According to some members, you may already be a part of the society! The membership is left open-ended and anybody can sponsor an activity. The Cacophony Society combined art and theatre in mischievous ways. They welcomed illegal events and avoided anything overtly political or religious.  

 


Remember the movie Fight Club? It was inspired by a novel, of the same name by author Chuck Palahnuik. He was a member of the Cacophony Society and he drafted Fight Club around the group’s secretive and enigmatic nature. Who would have known that a group of pranksters would bring us one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time!  

Apart from bringing us the Burning Man, flash mobs, art cars - the Cacophony Society also contributed to the Billboard Liberation Front. As stated in Wiki, it practices culture jamming by altering billboards by changing key words to radically alter the message.



 


That is all for now. Reach out if you've tried Urbex! Also reach out if you haven't.
See you the next time with more unusual articles!