A Tale of 2 Cities

 

A comparison can be made between the annual Burning Man festival and cities in the gradual loss of their original intent as authentic sources of communal spaces in society. Burning Man is a temporary gathering of participants who enjoy a week of community, art, counterculture, and free expression. Burning Man and other similar bluegrass movements like it are similar to urban cities inhabited by and for the people who more recently experience tension between preserving a sense of community and identity while accommodating growth and change. 

Burning Man was originally intended as a space for radical self-expression, community building, and experimentation with alternative forms of social organization with an emphasis on sustainability. However, over time, the festival has become more commercialized and mainstream, with greater emphasis on consumerism and spectacle. Some longtime attendees argue that this has led to a loss of the festival's original spirit and values as the price of an admission ticket has skyrocketed. Similarly, cities that are inhabited by and for the people are often shaped by a desire to create and maintain a sense of community and identity. This can involve initiatives such as community gardens, public art projects, and participatory planning processes. However, as cities grow and change, there can be pressure to prioritize development and economic growth over community needs and desires, leading to gentrification, displacement, and a loss of cultural heritage. Both Burning Man and cities inhabited by and for the people highlight the tension between preserving community and identity versus accommodating growth and change. In both cases, there is a need to balance these competing priorities in a way that fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment among the people who inhabit and participate in these spaces.