I just finished watching a 4-episode documentary about Burning Man, and I loved it. Among other editions, it covers the 2018 and 2022, two of the three years I’ve attended, so it brought back a lot of memories.
Social media has made Burning Man much more popular in recent years, but the event started 40 years ago, and even though it’s part of pop culture, many misconceptions still persist. The most common one is that it’s a music festival, which it isn’t. I liked some of the definitions shared in the documentary: “the largest interactive art exhibition in the world,” “a week-long choose-your-own-adventure book,” and “a place of healing.”
I think everyone who goes to Burning Man has a before-and-after, and that’s probably why so many people keep coming back despite all the hassle and hardship that come with it. For me, it’s been an experience that has shaped how I see the world and redefined the limits of what’s possible. I don’t know if I’ll ever come back, but I always tell my friends that I want to go at least one last time.
Whether you’re curious about it or you’re a burner yourself, I recommend watching it.