Burning Man, the annual festival that takes place in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, has announced its desire to put a stop to those using its spectacular backdrop as an aid to further commercial and other personal interests.
Marian Goodell, CEO of Burning Man Project, published a statement declaring:
“Whether it’s commercial photo shoots, product placements, or Instagram posts thanking ‘friends’ for a useful item, attendees including fashion models and social media ‘influencers’ are wearing and tagging brands in their playa photos. This means they are using Black Rock City to increase their popularity; to appeal to customers and sell more ‘stuff.’”
“Failing to make clear what behavior is unacceptable has compounded the problem. I recently heard rumors of more than one product or business launch happening on playa in 2018. Seriously, people. This really isn’t Burning Man.”
Goodell has pointed to ‘luxury camp’ packages as perverting Burning Man’s original spirit: “Burning Man is not a festival. The invitation to participate is more than an invitation to have an amazing experience. It’s about CREATING that experience for yourself and those around you.”
