2017 Burning Man will be remembered for man who ran into the flames during the festival’s final burning ceremony, and died. Attendees have tried to run into the flames as a symbol of rebirth for years and last week was a horrible expectation.
I have mixed feelings on how Burning Man is evolving. I'm not sure it's the “radical self-reliance”, “radical self-expression”, “decommodification” and “participation” event any longer.
When someone spends up to $12,000, and has someone else express herself on his behalf by hiring a costume maker, personal shopper and makeup artist. And swanky $100K camps called “plug and plays” are constructed, some by paid staff.
There is certainly no doubt that there are conspicuous camps in Black Rock City that practice the "concierge culture", and their missteps have been many. The rich people’ is creating a class system within Burning Man, which I don’t believe is beneficial to the community or Burners.
I deeply regret this year's horrible outcome, and will probably go back to Burning Man one day.