Using "Burning Man" in a title for a academic work

[doctorjan]

I am an anthropologist working on a ethnographic book with the University of Nevada Press on the connections between Silicon Valley and Black Rock City.  They suggested I use the phrase "Burning Man" in the title.  That feels a bit like commodification...Is there any practical or ethical reason I would not use the phrase?  Any experiences or opinions? 

doctorjan aka Bubblewrap

[Karen lillith Reyes]

Hi Bubblewrap

What is the focus of your book?  There are many books with burning man in the title or subtitle. Could be something like The Road from the Silicon Valley to Black Rock City: How The Tech Bros Influenced Burning Man

(If their influence is an integral part of your book).

Or how the Tech Bros funded Burning Man, etc.

The Press knows that having Burning Man in the title will draw an audience. They are not wrong.  I wouldn’t worry about commodification, we are well past that now in reality.

lillith

On Tue, Aug 11, 2026 at 4:03 PM doctorjan <jengli...@gmail.com> wrote:

I am an anthropologist working on a ethnographic book with the University of Nevada Press on the connections between Silicon Valley and Black Rock City.  They suggested I use the phrase "Burning Man" in the title.  That feels a bit like commodification...Is there any practical or ethical reason I would not use the phrase?  Any experiences or opinions? 

doctorjan aka Bubblewrap

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[Rabindra Ratan ♬]

I’d also agree. If it’s topically relevant, it’s not intended as commodification. And in my (new-ish) understanding, the no-commodification principle is far less salient off playa (gotta sell tickets somehow). 

But the main reason I’m reply is to share this relevant article if you haven’t seen it yet: 

https://fredturner.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj27111/files/media/file/turner-nms-burning-man.pdf

(I think there’s also a relevant chapter in his second book). 

Thanks,
Dr. Dra

(also a researcher off playa)

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[J.A. English-Lueck]

Dr. Dra and lilith,

I have been studying Silicon Valley workers for three decades now, and I shy away from the stereotypes of Silicon Valley as VCs and CEOs. While tech bros are out there (I meet them on the playa!), I tend to interact with diverse people who live and work in the region, rather than workers who fit into a narrow definition of Silicon Valley. 

My project was actually inspired by a lunch with Fred Turner, and so turned my attention to the cultural values of the peculiar form of capitalism created in Silicon Valley, and the values of those who have countered them in myriad ways.  Burning Man is an obvious site for such inquiry.  I write about the experiences of Bay Area workers, many in tech, who participate in Burning Man, as well as my own experiences on playa.  It has been a fun and challenging project, and one that perplexed my university's IRB. 

I am probably overthinking commodification, particularly for an academic book.  I have yet to turn a profit on a monograph, and my donations to Burning Man Project probably exceed any royalties I will ever get!

I hope I make it to the event at Census,

Bubblewrap

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