Letters from
the Zone

The Cacophony Society emerged from the creative underground of San Francisco in the 1980s—a loose network of artists, pranksters, and free spirits dedicated to "experiences beyond the mainstream." Part culture jamming, part urban exploration, part playful resistance to the ordinary, Cacophony events ranged from midnight croquet games to elaborate alternate reality experiences, all united by a commitment to participatory adventure and gleeful chaos.

From 2018 onwards, expats, locals, and wanderers in three Pacific cities began gathering under the Cacophony banner. In Shanghai, Emperor's Tongue chronicled the neon-lit adventures of a community navigating between worlds. In Haikou, Birds of a Feather documented tropical island life with sardonic wit. In Christchurch, the spirit emerged twice—first briefly in 2020 as The Daily Daikon, then resurrected in 2025 as Horse's Mouth, proving that Cacophony, like its members, refuses to stay buried.

This archive preserves the newsletters, photographs, and collective memories of these three Pacific chapters. It serves as both historical record and invitation—a reminder that somewhere, right now, someone is planning something beautifully unnecessary. You may already be a member.