We intently display ourselves sporting the most fashion conscious trends in our suburban manifestations of white picketed, identically boxed houses. However, what would happen if your neighbour's white picket fence was no longer white but psychedelic orange, and instead of quaint jazz music, hard electro-dance would blast out of their windows? Certainly the average Joe would have a few choice words about the situation.
Funny enough, America is known as the land of the free, but ironically we are still fighting the restrictions of social enclosure. Our society spews its conformist values on anything it surrounds, and in the moment that one seems "different", we quiver. Amongst these individuals are ravers, members of a grossly misunderstood sub-culture that often encounters stereotypical generalizations. However, ravers are nothing of a menace to society, but the heart of culturally acceptable behaviours.
People typically see raves as a place to propagate unorthodox behaviour.
."..Ravers must be hooligans that act wild like animals. They definitely disturb society with their fear evoking hallucinations... It could only be the product of the dozens of drugs they have cocktailed within the last hour..."
It sounds like something my mom would say, but this is not the case. I too at one time was a believer that nothing but bad could come from the experience of a rave. It was the propagated media images clouding my reasoning that excluded me from accepting any possibility of negotiable goodness. This was until I had the pleasure of experiencing rave culture for myself.
While in Europe this summer I had the opportunity to pass through Switzerland. Much to my disbelief, our little German bus got caught up in the streets o...
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...ening on the dance floor. The constant pulsations of music are what bring people together for dancing and socializing without any pre-judgement or condemnation. This purpose of rave culture seems almost utopic, something people fail to see. The rave culture is much more credible than it is observed to be, because of the creation of such exemplary behaviour and ideals.
Ravers are most misunderstood, because they do not comply with the routine consistency of what some believe everyday life should be. It is not often when the American society can open its doors to such radicalism, but they should take a chance. Like fine art, we learn to appreciate it over time. Realism is a depiction of great art to the common man. But to the trained eye, suddenly a surreal image may because more appealing than ever, because it is unique just like the intent of a so-called rave.
The first article, “The Best Night $500,000 Can Buy,” portrays the perfect night out in Las Vegas. Devin chronologically takes the reader through a night in one of the famous clubs in Las Vegas, Marquee. He describes the fundamental marketing techniques that promoters use to lure women into the venue, the prices that high-rollers pay to get a VIP access and tables, and the “shitshow” atmosphere where people are dancing as if they are on Ecstasy (some people are actually on drugs). From personal experience, Las Vegas is definitely the Disney World for adults because people can openly consume alcoholic beverages on Fremont Street while enjoying their time at the arcades, night and day clubs, pools, gambling rooms, theme park rides, shopping centers, restaurants, strip clubs, and wedding chapels. Which ultimately le...
Ten minutes after lining up, I went inside the nightclub. From the door, I could hear the song and the beat of the bass so loud that my heart could feel it. Inside the nightclub, I saw people were dancing everywhere, on dancing floor, on their own seats, everywhere. They would dance and take a big gulp of their beer. Even the bartenders were dancing too, following the rhythm of the loud funky music. The rainbow rays of light moved through the club to make the mood even more exciting and funky.
In Justin Pearson's memoir, From the Graveyard of the arousal Industry, he recounts the events that occured from his early years of adolesence to the latter years of his adulthood telling the story of his unforgiving and candid life. Set in the late 1970s "Punk" rock era, From the Graveyard of the Arousal Industry offers a valuable perspective about the role culture takes in our lives, how we interact with it and how it differs from ideology.
Over 84 years ago New York was the city of swing. In a realm where culture clashed with politics, race with class and gender with society most teenagers spent an ample amount of their spare time dancing to the music of Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and the likes of others. With the music, blasting in their ears and sweat dripping of their skin the youth was engulfed in a period that would come to stand as a turning point for African-Americans. Despite the rage of the music, there is no question that appearances and the right attire also played a prominent role in the culture of that time. In a society wherein which, Blacks were discriminated and stereotyped against their clothing distinguished and set them apart. The Zoot-Suit, one of the significant symbols of fashion during the era of Swing music was more than embellished get-up. It was a statement, a rebellion, a cultural identification even, but mainly it was a reminder of the social order of society that failed to express and identify certain races1. Although many have argued that racial tensions leading up to the riots emerged from the attitudes of the various races, I stand that fashion choices chosen by the youth of that period played a substantial role in the insurgence. This paper explores the history of the suit, its social and political contexts, its connection to music as well as the implications of fashion choices during the 1930’s and 1940’s.
The sound of music can fulfil someone's ears with the rhythm of the beat or the sweet tone of the melody. Some people enjoy music with a little more “experience.” Rock, rap, and heavy metal are examples of music genres that has a reputation of using drugs to enhance the experience of the music. One other common music genre that has a reputation of drugs is EDM. Electronic Dance Music. It is a type of music typically created by using electronic devices, like a laptop, generated by a person with some talent. This music genre is known for it’s “club drugs” like ecstasy, methanamine, or magic mushrooms. (“CRC Health”) Some people use drugs at raves to “enhance” the experience and also people have tried or are trying to push the usage of drugs at rave to a certain that you can take. Many people want more security checks at raves so they can reduce the injuries and deaths at raves.
During the “Beat Generation” there were three types of members: the wild boys, the hipsters, and the young politicians. They all have their different personalities and actions they use. The wild boys “drink to `come down’ or to `get high,’ not to illustrate anything.”(2) This shows a change in how they drank. They drank for themselves and to calm their feelings and feel better about them, not to show off to anyone. The wild boys’ characteristics make them `beat’ because are living life to the fullest, without any regret of tomorrow. They drink till they can’t drink no more or party till they can’t stand. This causes them to not worry about what will happen or how they are going to live tomorrow; they only care about the present. The hipsters they want to make “a mystique of bop, drugs and the night life, there is no desire to shatter the `square’ society in which he lives, only to elude it.”(3) The hipsters don’t care for society or care what it tells them to do. They go about their ways and do what they want. They don’t want to change the rules or the laws but only to make sure they don’t get swept up in ideas or thoughts that society gives them. The hipsters’ characteristics are `beat’ because they go against what is told to be the proper or correct way. They may get beat down in the beginning and face hard times, but later on they will find new ways of doing things and those will be the new way society sees things. The young politician looks up to “Badditt as a cultural hero.”(3) He goes along with what society has showed him to do. The characteristics of the politician make him beat because he doesn’t do anything for his own; he does what is right to do, and what will get him far in life. When society catches up to him he wil...
Sisario, Ben and James C. McKinley. “Drugs Deaths Threaten Rising Business of Electronic Music Fests”. New York Times. 9 Sept 2013. Web. 1 Apr 2014.
Beginning with the late 1960’s counterculture in San Francisco, music and drugs will forever be inter-linked. Hippie bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, and Phish are associated with marijuana, mushrooms, and LSD. Modern electronic “rave” , or club music is associated with MDMA or Ecstasy. When one thinks of rock and roll, sex and drugs immediately come to mind. While the use of drugs is not essential for the creation or performance of all new music, it was certainly in important factor for the counterculture music of the late 1960’s. While some of the most important and influential music was made with the help of psychoactive drugs, it was often to the detriment of the artist. Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and countless other tremendously talented artists had their lives cut short due to drug use. Drugs were most often good for the music, but deadly for the music makers.
...ew Carnival themed parties. It's always wild. And even with the alcohol thats always flowing, the people are in good spirits. There are no drunk guys fighting, just a lot of singing, clapping, and dancing, people just having a good time. I don't think it would be right to say that its the music that does it - but you don't get that same shared spirit at a rock concert, rap concert, etc. It's just a good feeling, the more you listen, the more you play or participate, the more you get it.
Before we go any further, I think I should first dispel some rumors and ease your mind of the negative thoughts that must be sweeping through it. What do you think of when you hear the word rave? Drugs? Hoodlum kids running amuck? Loud music that interferes with the whole community’s sleeping habits? Violence? The dictionary defines the word “rave” as a numerous amount of things, such as “an act or instance” or the verb “to talk with extreme enthusiasm,” but this is one case where Webster has got it all wrong. What is the true definition of a rave? In most cases, a rave is simply a dance party where guests experience a sense of camaraderie and elevated consciousness through the presence of music. This means there is an abundance of dance expression, interaction with other such ravers, and a positive mood change. And while there are sometimes drugs involved, there is absolutely no deliberate disturbance of the peace and zero tolerance for violence. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s divulge into the history of this invigorating phenomenon.
Yes ecstasy is used at “raves”, but not by everyone. Natural “ravers” (sober ravers), are given a bad rap because their title “raver” is automatically connected to ecstasy. Yes many people at raves drop ecstasy but just as many do not. Many people have been permanently effected by “ecstasy “, but those people say that the drug “ruined their life” when in actuality “they ruined their own life.”
Throughout the 1960’s, the counterculture era emerged from American society. Drug culture, hippies, sexual revolution, literature, and music all greatly contributed to influencing the attitudes and ideals of the late twentieth century. Each aspect of the counterculture influenced people’s ideologies and lifestyles. They developed a new sense of creativity which was never found in previous years in the United States. People experimented beyond their comfort levels and developed a ideals which contradicted the restricting ones prior to the movement. Counterculture left an everlasting impact. The emphasis on hippies and drugs and the other aspects of the society during the 60's has diminished, but towards the end of that century, long hair and colorful clothes became a trend, and the overuse of drugs led to overdose and addictions, including many Vietnam War veterans.
Have you ever watched a rap song’s music video? If yes, what did you notice about it? The amount of drugs, alcohol, and violence in it, or the swearing, stacks of money, and highly expensive items? Rappers mainly associate their music with very negative aspects to life. A great example of this is the excessive talk of alcohol and drug abuse throughout their music. Drugs and alcohol are both substances which humans use in order to become intoxicated. With a boundless use of either substance, it can lead to overdose and even bring irreversible effects onto the user, such as organ damage, and in extreme cases, death. However, in rap music, drugs and alcohol are commended. This gives teenagers the impression that substance abuse is fun and cool. This contributes to the curiosity youth will have about drugs and alcohol, and can influence them to begin experimenting. On top of that, the rap industry likes to incorporate much violence and glamorize gang life in their music. For instance, many rap artists have taken part in the west coast versus east coast rivalry. This rivalry has led to the deaths of several famous rap artists, including Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. The type of behaviour shown inside the rivalry influences teenagers to believe that a violent, gang related lifestyle is okay, when in fact it is
Everyone has a favorite type of music. Many people follow music closely and have unique tastes. Some people find genres and mixes of genres that they like. People find other people who share these musical interests. People who immerse themselves in a genre or performer find the live performance particularly meaningful and seek out those artists in concert. Music concerts are some of the biggest and most attended events in our modern culture. These are venues where people come together and express themselves through movement and sound. Individuals transcend their everyday experience, connecting to the performers and each other. The experience of the performance and the energy around you is addictive. It’s almost religious. The desire to return to that “mountain top” is powerful. And for how powerful it is to the crowd, it is so much more invigorating for the performers up on stage doing what they love. What if the high just isn’t there the next time? What if a tolerance starts to build up? That’s when many begin to add narcotics into the experience, to rebirth that feeling. Music has been a vital part of culture, and drugs have always been involved in and around both music and culture, effecting the music and the youth listening to it.
make a choice between the love of your life and going to a football game, a