Is the Burning Man Festival Collapsing and Dying?
This year’s Burning Man festival was from August 30th to September 7th, located at Black Rock City, in Black Rock Desert of Pershing County, Nevada. The Burning Man event’s ten principles, or their 10 commandments, include communal effort, participation, immediacy, civic responsibility, radical self-expression, gifting, radical self-reliance, decommodification, leaving no trace, and radical inclusion.
On the last two days, the Temple and the Burning Man Effigy are burned down, which has to do with letting go and leaving the past behind in order to help them move on to a better future ahead. It is kind of like a ritualistic, spiritual rebirth or a born-again ritual. The participants create their own activities and art for their temporary communal-living city. Such artwork might involve experimental as well as interactive buildings, sculptures, installations, performances, artistic cars, and applied arts.
There are also drugs, orgy tent, and alcohol, but people are free to participate in whatever they want, as long as they don’t hurt other people. It was originally created for bohemians and free-spirited people as a hippy-like haven. But it has attracted annoying influencers, celebrities, and elites, probably because they can afford it as an exclusive event.
The general ticket prices range from $550 to $3000. A Vehicle Pass costs $165. Plus, participants should pack 1.5 gallons of water per day, food and snacks for one week, a sturdy tent or RV that can sustain dust storms, rain, and heat, as well as appropriate clothes, dust masks, goggles, sturdy shoes, fishing boots, First-Aid Kit, sunscreen, and items to share with the community. It is also the participants’ responsibility to pack up everything, including trash, in order to not leave any trace of the event. There is a guide and checklist for participants in order to make sure to bring the basic necessities for their weeklong survival in the middle of a desert. The Burning Man event is organized in a clock format, where different booths or entertainment tents are placed in twelve sections, of a clock form, for easy access as well as accommodating specific people’s interests.
The Burning Man festival or event appears to have died this year. For one thing, I just heard about it because not many people on YouTube were talking about its usual chaos. A news network mentioned three people died—one 51-year-old man, one man in his 60s, and mid-50s man. This year’s Burning Man is described as boring because it is apparently collapsing. Less people went to it, probably because of inflation, increase in gas prices, increase in food prices, or even people might be losing interest. But their installations and sculptures are interesting, as usual.
A woman explains her experiences in this year’s Burning Man. She seems excited, which is why she attended it for the third time. The gates open at midnight, and she went at midnight to find a good spot before the rest of the participants entered during daytime. She experienced some dust storm, windiness, and rain. A man explains his positive experience at the festival. Everything is free at this event. There are different-themed camps or tents for people to just hang out with similar people. But I noticed some dark-cult symbolism, such as Illuminati pyramid and people dressed as biblical slaves. Besides three deaths, this Burning Man festival appears to be more peaceful than past ones. There wasn’t any of the usual drama queens and wild dramas.
But there were some minor controversies. Some participants were kicked out of Burning Man for talking about Jesus. Kids were at this event with their family. Some participants complained that lots of old people were at this year’s Burning Man. I don’t think these people are controversies. Participants should hang out with similar people, which includes a family section for participants who bring their kids along. Other participants were complaining about their boring experience, mostly because they feel that they wasted their money. The event felt like more headache than fun, such as walking in a muddy desert terrain with boots, while covering face with scarf. The Black Rock City weather included sandstorms, dust storms, and rain, which made the desert terrain difficult to walk or ride bicycles. I think the people who complained probably weren’t prepared for this event. They had greater expectations from what they actually experienced.
It appears similar to past Burning Man Festivals, but there were less participants at this year’s event. The sculptures and installations still look interesting and fun, and most participants made most of their time, enjoying themselves. Everyone had their own experiences, whether it was fun or boring. It is sad that three participants died. There should have been more on-site medics for emergencies to prevent any deaths. Therefore, it is important to do a thorough research about such festivals or events as well as make preparations for the worst conditions while hoping for the best experience.
