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Burning Man is an annual event held in the Black Rock Desert, in Northern Nevada. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening.
The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance. Organizers have noted, "Trying to explain what Burning Man is to someone who has never been to the event is a bit like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind." Similarly, Thomas Nagel has commented that "its like trying to explain sounds to a deaf person, taste to someone who can not taste. There is just a myriad of pointless analogies concerning the Burning Man Festival."
The event is open to public for 8 days. It ends on the day of the American Labor Day holiday (the first Monday in September). It opens on the Monday before, at 12 AM (00:00). Some organized volunteers, however, arrive a few weeks in advance to prepare the infrastructure of Black Rock City, the temporary city created by Burning Man participants in what is flat high elevation desert before and after the event.
The event is organized by Black Rock City, LLC. In 2008, 49,599 people participated in The Burning Man Project.
Principles
Because of the variety of goals fostered by participatory attendees, known as "Burners", Burning Man does not have a single focus. Features of the event are subject to the participants and include community, artwork, absurdity, decommodification, and revelry. Participation is encouraged.
The Burning Man event is governed by the 10 principles of Burning Man, which are radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.
Radical inclusion
Anyone is welcomed and there are no prerequisites to be part of Burning Man. All participants are expected to bring a ticket, provide for their own basic needs, and follow the minimal rules of the event.
Gifting
Instead of cash, event participants are encouraged to rely on a gift economy, a sort of potlatch. In the earliest days of the event, an underground barter economy also existed, in which burners exchanged material goods and/or "favors" with each other. While this was originally supported by the Burning Man organization, this now is largely discouraged. Instead, burners are encouraged to give gifts to one another unconditionally.
Decommodification
No cash transactions are permitted at the event in accordance with the principles of Burning Man, with the exception of the following:
* Admission tickets, although tickets for the 2008 event are only available in advance at select stores, by mail or via the Burning Man ticket website
* Café beverages such as coffee, chai, lemonade, etc., which are sold at Center Camp Café.
* Ice, available for purchase at three places in the city: "Camp Arctica" in Center Camp, "Ice Cubed" at the 3 o'clock portal and "Ice-9" at the 9 o'clock portal. Ice sales benefit the local Gerlach-Empire school system.
* Tickets for the shuttle bus to the nearest Nevada communities of Gerlach and Empire which is operated by contractor Green Tortoise.
* A re-entry wristband, which allows a person to leave and re-enter the event and may be purchased at the gate upon exit.
* An airport use fee, payable at the airport upon first entry.
* RV dump service and camp gray water disposal service, available for cash from Johnny on the Spot, the official contractor.
* Diesel and biodiesel, supplied by Sierra Fuels, the official contractor.
* Private portable toilets and servicing, which can be arranged with the official contractor.
Radical self-reliance
Because of the event's harsh environment and remote location, participants are expected to be responsible for their own subsistence. Since the LLC forbids any commerce, with the exception of the items stated in Decommodification, participants must be prepared and bring their own supplies such as water, food, proper clothing and shelter, just to name a few. Nothing is provided by the event with the exception of portable toilets.
Radical self-expression
Participants are encouraged to express themselves in a number of ways through various art forms and projects. The event is clothing-optional and public nudity is common, though not practiced by the majority.
Communal effort
Burning Man is a cooperative and collaborative event. Participants are encouraged to work with and help fellow participants.
Civic responsibility
Participants are encouraged and assume responsibility to be part of a civil society in which federal, state and local laws are obeyed and communicate this to other participants.
"Leave No Trace" policy
Participants are committed to a leave-no-trace event. They strive to leave the area around them in better condition than before their arrival to ensure their participation does not have a long term impact on the environment.
Participation
"Attendees" are encouraged to participate since Burning Man is about participation in one form or another.
Immediacy
Participants are asked to become part of the event, to experience what is around them and society and to explore their inner selves and their relation to the event.
The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance. Organizers have noted, "Trying to explain what Burning Man is to someone who has never been to the event is a bit like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind." Similarly, Thomas Nagel has commented that "its like trying to explain sounds to a deaf person, taste to someone who can not taste. There is just a myriad of pointless analogies concerning the Burning Man Festival."
The event is open to public for 8 days. It ends on the day of the American Labor Day holiday (the first Monday in September). It opens on the Monday before, at 12 AM (00:00). Some organized volunteers, however, arrive a few weeks in advance to prepare the infrastructure of Black Rock City, the temporary city created by Burning Man participants in what is flat high elevation desert before and after the event.
The event is organized by Black Rock City, LLC. In 2008, 49,599 people participated in The Burning Man Project.
Principles
Because of the variety of goals fostered by participatory attendees, known as "Burners", Burning Man does not have a single focus. Features of the event are subject to the participants and include community, artwork, absurdity, decommodification, and revelry. Participation is encouraged.
The Burning Man event is governed by the 10 principles of Burning Man, which are radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.
Radical inclusion
Anyone is welcomed and there are no prerequisites to be part of Burning Man. All participants are expected to bring a ticket, provide for their own basic needs, and follow the minimal rules of the event.
Gifting
Instead of cash, event participants are encouraged to rely on a gift economy, a sort of potlatch. In the earliest days of the event, an underground barter economy also existed, in which burners exchanged material goods and/or "favors" with each other. While this was originally supported by the Burning Man organization, this now is largely discouraged. Instead, burners are encouraged to give gifts to one another unconditionally.
Decommodification
No cash transactions are permitted at the event in accordance with the principles of Burning Man, with the exception of the following:
* Admission tickets, although tickets for the 2008 event are only available in advance at select stores, by mail or via the Burning Man ticket website
* Café beverages such as coffee, chai, lemonade, etc., which are sold at Center Camp Café.
* Ice, available for purchase at three places in the city: "Camp Arctica" in Center Camp, "Ice Cubed" at the 3 o'clock portal and "Ice-9" at the 9 o'clock portal. Ice sales benefit the local Gerlach-Empire school system.
* Tickets for the shuttle bus to the nearest Nevada communities of Gerlach and Empire which is operated by contractor Green Tortoise.
* A re-entry wristband, which allows a person to leave and re-enter the event and may be purchased at the gate upon exit.
* An airport use fee, payable at the airport upon first entry.
* RV dump service and camp gray water disposal service, available for cash from Johnny on the Spot, the official contractor.
* Diesel and biodiesel, supplied by Sierra Fuels, the official contractor.
* Private portable toilets and servicing, which can be arranged with the official contractor.
Radical self-reliance
Because of the event's harsh environment and remote location, participants are expected to be responsible for their own subsistence. Since the LLC forbids any commerce, with the exception of the items stated in Decommodification, participants must be prepared and bring their own supplies such as water, food, proper clothing and shelter, just to name a few. Nothing is provided by the event with the exception of portable toilets.
Radical self-expression
Participants are encouraged to express themselves in a number of ways through various art forms and projects. The event is clothing-optional and public nudity is common, though not practiced by the majority.
Communal effort
Burning Man is a cooperative and collaborative event. Participants are encouraged to work with and help fellow participants.
Civic responsibility
Participants are encouraged and assume responsibility to be part of a civil society in which federal, state and local laws are obeyed and communicate this to other participants.
"Leave No Trace" policy
Participants are committed to a leave-no-trace event. They strive to leave the area around them in better condition than before their arrival to ensure their participation does not have a long term impact on the environment.
Participation
"Attendees" are encouraged to participate since Burning Man is about participation in one form or another.
Immediacy
Participants are asked to become part of the event, to experience what is around them and society and to explore their inner selves and their relation to the event.
