The Photos From This Year’s Burning Man Event are Epic
Akihiko Tse — September 11, 2013 — World
References: burningman & mymodernmet
Stunning photos from this year’s version of Burning Man show a massive spacecraft-like construction engulfed in huge flames as a smoldering man stands atop it. The annual event, which draws in excess of 60,000 spectators to Black Rock Desert in Nevada and took place from August 26 to September 2 this year, is dedicated to “community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.” For this year’s event, the “citizens,” who also actively contributed to the creation of the building and The Man, as he is known, based the idea on “Cargo Cult.”
In that story, the Melanesians built a giant, totemic structure -- the Cargo Cult -- in homage to a mysterious deity they called John Frum who, along with other American GIs, brought “unimaginable riches” with them to the South Sea island chain. In the hopes of summoning Frum back, the Melanesians built the structure to worship the man who, among things, brought with him “inconceivable power sources,” “crumpled beers cans” and “the memory of Spam.”
Despite the scale of the large inferno, the visitors leave each year with no noticeable trace of their presence.
In that story, the Melanesians built a giant, totemic structure -- the Cargo Cult -- in homage to a mysterious deity they called John Frum who, along with other American GIs, brought “unimaginable riches” with them to the South Sea island chain. In the hopes of summoning Frum back, the Melanesians built the structure to worship the man who, among things, brought with him “inconceivable power sources,” “crumpled beers cans” and “the memory of Spam.”
Despite the scale of the large inferno, the visitors leave each year with no noticeable trace of their presence.
Trend Themes
1. Burning Man Event - The annual Burning Man event showcases the potential for large-scale artistic and self-expression installations.
2. Community Art - The concept of community-driven art projects, like the Cargo Cult theme, offers opportunities for collaborative and immersive experiences.
3. Temporary Experiences - The temporary nature of Burning Man highlights the trend towards short-term, ephemeral experiences that leave minimal environmental impact.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - The art and design industry can explore creating large-scale interactive installations that encourage community participation.
2. Event Management - Event management professionals can tap into the trend of creating unique and immersive experiences through themed events and festivals.
3. Sustainability and Environmental Conservation - The focus on leaving no trace at Burning Man presents an opportunity for the sustainability industry to develop innovative solutions for minimizing the environmental impact of large-scale events.
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