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Bottomers have little time for rigorous or structured academic pursuits, but they are neither idiots nor incurious; for the most part, instead of scholars, they have oral Lorekeepers. |
Bottom has an undeserved reputation, which mirrors that of its sibling Top. Bottomwarpian society really is little more than a never-ending street party, devoted to unbridled indulgence of the senses. (Some choose to wear bridles anyhow...) But while this does translate to "gropey public sex" as often as not, Bottom's guests do know other ways to have a good time. They aren't vacant sex machines any more than Topwarpers are puritanical prudes.
The most remarkable trait of Bottomwarp's infrastructure is that it is extremely modular. There is very little in the way of permanent structures there. The few permanent fixtures don't always serve the same function, but are there as public utility space as needed. Most of the population lives in spray-down foam tents which degrade harmlessly after a few days. Most of the entertainment is outdoors, in arenas which are disassembled after the event. Most of the shops and meeting places are little more than bazaars of booths and tents that are never the same from day to day.
The state of the arts is pretty healthy in Bottom. Bottom's visual arts are extroverted and unpretentious, emphasizing beauty for its own sake over hidden profundity. Murals are very popular; so, of course, is bodypainting. Music tends to be fast, bass-heavy, and trancelike and is almost always meant to be played in front of huge crowds. Most Bottomwarpers don't have the patience to write anything lengthy, but improvisational poetry and lazy day-long conversations are both popular. Bottomers have little time for rigorous or structured academic pursuits, but they are neither idiots nor incurious; for the most part, instead of scholars, they have oral Lorekeepers.
In their own way, the residents of Bottomwarp are ingenious. But they are also very single-minded. Virtually all of Bottom's intellectual and social effort is poured into hedonistic purposes.