Luddite festival harnesses Gen Z's rage against Big Tech

The "Luddite Recreations" performance, held in New York's Tompkins Square Park, is part of the "Summer of Ludd" series aimed at encouraging people to disengage from their phones and reconnect with each other.

The performance details the history of the Luddite movement during the early Industrial Revolution in England. The Luddites resisted the adoption of machinery and the displacement from their work, facing violent opposition from the British monarchy.

The "Summer of Ludd" week features various activities such as offline dating, clothing mending, and protests against data centers. The overall goal is to reduce smartphone dependency and foster community engagement.

"Luddite Recreations" was one of the festival's opening events, drawing hundreds of attendees to New York's East Village.