Rules of the House: Burning Man Gift Culture

By Dan Porras

2014 | 9 mins

Rules of the House: Burning Man Gift Culture is a multimedia project documenting the diverse ways that cultures around the world measure and perceive well-being, wealth, and happiness. This episode explores the colorful and quirky gifting culture at the annual Burning Man event.

Cash transactions are disallowed at Burning Man, and the planned and chance exchanges that take place at the festival are shifting attitudes about value, commerce and service for thousands of people. Filmmaker Dan Porras was on the board of directors of Black Rock Solar, and also runs communications for The Christensen Fund, a non-profit foundation that supports the efforts of Indigenous people to maintain their cultural and biological heritage.