Burning Man is an annual gathering that takes place at Black Rock City—a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The event is described as an experiment in community and art, influenced by 10 main principles: "radical" inclusion, self-reliance, and self-expression, as well as community cooperation, civic responsibility, gifting, decommodification, participation, immediacy, and leaving no trace.
First held in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organized by Larry Harvey and a group of friends, it has since been held annually, spanning from the last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September (the U.S. Labor Day). Burning Man 2016 was held between August 28 and September 5, 2016.
At Burning Man, the community explores various forms of artistic self-expression, created in celebration for the pleasure of all participants. Participation is a key precept for the community – selfless giving of one's unique talents for the enjoyment of all is encouraged and actively reinforced. Some of these generous outpourings of creativity can include experimental and interactive sculpture, building, performance, and art cars among other media, often inspired by the yearly theme, chosen by organizers.
The event takes its name from its culmination, the symbolic ritual burning of a large wooden effigy ("the Man") that traditionally occurs on the Saturday evening of the event.[2][3][4][5]
Burning Man is organized by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit organization that, in 2014, succeeded a for-profit limited liability company (Black Rock City, LLC) that was formed in 1997 to represent the event's organizers, and is now considered a subsidiary of the non-profit organization. In 2010, 51,515 people attended Burning Man.[6] Attendance in 2011 was capped at 50,000 participants and the event sold out on July 24;[7] the attendance rose to 70,000 in 2015.[1] Smaller regional events inspired by the principles of Burning Man have been held internationally; some of these events are also officially endorsed by the Burning Man Project as regional branches of the event.
This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at September 4, 2017 11:35 AM MDT
I see that the spirit of Darwin is still alive and well in our species . . .
But I think the point is hedonism. It's basically "spring break" for adults on the west coast just like Fantasyfest in Key West is for eastern dwellers.
This post was edited by Salt and Red Pepper at September 4, 2017 2:58 PM MDT
It looks like fun to me, though probably a bit crazy for my taste. But I can see the appeal in going "off the grid" to a place where people do whatever they want for a few days. It could be a nice break from "society". That doesn't mean safety should be out the door, though...
Much like the wicker man festival, burned as a Fall celebration, (but without the human sacrifice). We still celebrate the pagan, most of our holidays have ancient history to them.
