In 2018, I made my last pilgrimage to dusty Black Rock City for Burning Man. But was this desert utopia for real, or merely a mirage?
Burning Man aspires to create a ‘barter’ economy where good deeds return tenfold and ‘playa magic’ reigns. While immersed, this fantasy feels real. However, there’s an irony in spending a fortune—charter flights, private RVs, cases of champagne—to partake in this supposed alternative economy.
Today’s Burn feels far removed from its roots. Conspicuous consumption often overshadows the original ideals. Yes, you’ll still find folks volunteering or gifting coffee at dawn, but the prevailing atmosphere is one of consuming the experience rather than embodying its principles.
Don’t get me wrong—it’s a great party. But what does it reveal about us?
This shift at Burning Man seems symptomatic of a larger issue: our tendency to bring our consumption mindset everywhere, even to events designed to challenge it. It highlights how deeply ingrained our consumer habits are, persisting even in environments created to foster alternative values.
My first Burn in 2013 was markedly different, though I admit I wasn’t immune to the consumption mindset then either!
How can we break free from the ingrained consumption patterns in our daily lives, not just in temporary desert utopias? Can we create celebration and community without relying on conspicuous consumption?
Have you been to Burning Man? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
warmly,
Navin