What Burning Man says about cities today
Every year, Burning Man constructs a temporary city in the Nevada desert. While being a countercultural space, it?s following a similar lifecycle as permanent cities. | DigitalGlobe via Getty Images
The lifecycle of Black Rock City is the accelerated lifecycle of cities that are becoming victims of their success What says American urban planning better than dismantling something and starting all over again" A blank slate has long tantalized city builders who yearn to solve social problems through design, and there?s one place where that blank slate is an annual ritual: Black Rock City, the site of Burning Man.
What began as a bonfire on a San Francisco beach in 1986 has become a week-long festival in a full-fledged temporary city. It?s founded on utopian ideals of equality, inclusivity, communitarianism, self-expression, self-reliance, and environmentalism, among others. However, Burning Man hasn?t been able to escape mainstream 21st-century urban problems: high costs, staggering traffic, insufficient infrastructure, income inequality wrought by tech billionaires, calls for heightened surveillance due to perceived terrorism threats and drug use, and not enough room for everyone who wants to attend. Oh, and Instagram influencers who are using the artistry and creativity of Burning Man for #SponCon.
Now in its 33rd year, Burning Man has moved from counterculture to commodity, and it?s grappling with the same growth challenges as more conventional cities. ...
-------------------------------- |
Elves drink morning dew in video by Pauline Rip |
|
How to Paint IKEA Furniture with Flawless Results
28-04-2024 09:06 - (
architecture )