tained community experience. “Burners” appreciate
their culture, champion communication, and respect
relationships. While self-reliance, self-expression,
and taking responsibility for oneself are axiomatic
principles, making oneself a part of the culture that
defines itself as “radically inclusive” is imperative.
Also, the mission of Burning Man festivals has al-
ways included a devout sense of and respect for
“immediacy”: Priority is given to experience over
theory, morality over politics, effort over consider-
ation of gain, and participant support over commer-
cial support.
Impact The Burning Man festivals and subculture
have been referenced in various facets of popular
culture, from music to television shows, and have
spawned other regional events. In the early twenty-
first century, the annual event received criticism for
its environmental impact. Vehicle travel to and from
Black Rock Desert, power usage and generation on
the playa, art cars on the playa, and fire art all con-
tribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless,
Burners denounce commodification and deny ma-
terialistic motives, adhering to the leave-no-trace
philosophy. While the temporary community lives
out the artistic and humane ideals for one week ev-
ery year, the members continue to encourage
“green” living throughout the event and every day of
the year.Further Reading
Bruder, Jessica.Burning Book: A Visual Histor y of
Burning Man. New York: Simon Spotlight Enter-
tainment, 2007. With the collaboration of thirty-128 Burning Man festivals The Nineties in America
A bagpipe player and belly dancer on stilts participate in Burning Man 1998, held in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.(Hulton Archive/
Getty Images)