A Whole New Way to Dance

Raves in the 1980s, was a new, big, hip culture, but now a day raves are known as a subculture. Raves “are the focus of rave culture, a youth-oriented subculture that blends music, art and social ideals (e.g., peace, love, unity, respect, tolerance, happiness) together” (Scotts). According to Genevieve Bembenek’s article “Rave Party”, rave is “a free party that is typically an all-night dance event where DJs and other performers play electronic dance music and rave music”. According to TheSite.org’s article of "The History of Rave Culture", rave is “an all night event, where people go to dance, socialize, get high and generally have fun in an uninhibited way with other likeminded people”. And according to Michael S. Scott’s article called "Rave Parties" rave is “are dance parties that feature fast-paced, repetitive electronic music and accompanying light shows. Each difference sources have difference definitions but they have a common detonator. They all have the same concept of rave. Rave parties are loud, flashy with lots of bright lights, and it is an all night event.

The word rave is originally originated by people of Caribbean descended from London. The word is used in 1980s to describe parties. The term rave was first used in the 1950s in Britain but it is not big until the 1980s. Rave parties grew out from the subculture acid house movement that began in Chicago to the United Kingdom. It is also said that rave parties are commonly associated with drug especially ecstasy and alcoholic beverages. With that in mind, rave parties also attracted law enforcements.

Where are Rave Parties thrown? Well since raves are often associated with law enforcements and drugs, the location of the rave parties are secretive till the very last moment. This is to keep the cops from shutting down the parties. The earliest raves were underground, it is often illegal. It is “usually in a derelict warehouse, a club, a beach, a field, an aircraft hangar or a sports arena - anywhere you could fit a massive sound system and a lot of people”. By the early 1900s, raves began to emerge from underground to the center of the British youth culture. Rave parties are usually attended by young adults from all social background.

In the article “Rave Parties” written by Michael Scotts, he states that rave cultures are often involved with drugs and police. He continues on to say Ravers take drugs such as ecstasy, ketamine, methamphetamine, GHB and ephedrine to get a sensation that would boost their energy for the whole night so they can dance the night away. The police’s main concerns for raves are drug use/drug overdose, drug trafficking, driving under the influences, and noise (from the loud music, crowds and traffic). This is why raves began in the 1980s as an underground and illegal event. A website called Tennessee Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Service introduces to readers to raves and the drugs that Ravers use when they attend raves. It gives the description of the drugs and the effects it has on Ravers.

In a post written by a person named Gitenjit on getting ready for college. He tells the readers about raves. How a rave experiences is like. Raves have ‘performers playing rave music and other types of electronic dance music for dancers, with the flashing of colored lights, projected images, and laser effects. Break-dancing, popping and locking, glow-sticking, liquid dancing and poi are the most popular dances seen at these rave parties”. This person also introduces a new rave pill. This new rave pill is suppose to “make you happy & give you an out-of-the-world high without any "come-down" effects that are seen in most other party pills”.

The following video clip is taken from you tube. This beat boxing rave party theme is uploaded by a person named Verbalase. He displayed this video clip on you tube on October 16^th of 2006. He was one of the performers of this particular rave. This rave party took place in a place called Club Ra. This is beat boxing rave party is just one of many rave themes.

The following pictures are just typical pictures of what rave parties look like. As mention previously, it is usually filled with thousands of people, loud electronics/instrumental music, special lighting effects and Ravers with glow sticks.

Ravers are just a group of youths out looking for fun. They just have an unique way of partying and a different sense of fun. They find that drugs are their way to keep them high and energetic so they can dance the night away. In a way Ravers, attend raves to get away from reality and they find the atmosphere relaxing.

What makes raves a subculture? Well the characteristics of raves would classify it as a subculture. Raves are loud, crowded, and connected with drugs. This set it apart from other types of parties. Raves are attend by an unique group of youths, it is not to say regular youth do not attend raves. It is just that raves are usually attend by trouble youths who are into drugs and alcohols. Maybe due to this reason raves are at times illegal and the locations are often hidden until the last hour. Raves are not socially accepted by society.

Reference:

Bembenek, Genevieve. "Rave Party." 16 Feb. 2006. 27 Nov. 2007 <://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976718631>.

"The History of Rave Culture." TheSite.Org. 27 Nov. 2007.

Scott, Michael S. "Rave Parties." COPS. 2002. 27 Nov. 2007 . <http://www.popcenter.org/problems/problem-rave_parties.htm>
Gitenjit. "The Party Never Ends with the All New Rave Party Pills." About.Com. 06 Oct. 27 Nov. 2007. <http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-collegelife&tid=439>

“Beatboxing Rave party”. (videoclip) <http://youtube.com/watch?v=mBbmC-bSbR4>

Hutson, Scott R. "Technoshamanism: Spiritual Healing in the Rave Subculture." 1999. 1 Dec. 2007.

Tennessee Association of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Service. "Rave Club/Club Drugs Things You Need To Know" 2 Dec. 2007.

Images:
http://www.poppop.net/image/andyold6-1.jpg

http://www.talktofrank.com/uploadedImages/Drugs/LARGE-PHOTOS_ECSTASY.jpg

http://www.nbcd.gov.tw/home/dep/images/Ketamine.jpg

http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/images/logos/ravers.gif

http://hawaii.metblogs.com/photos/love_fest_2005_01.jpg

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/91500/2/istockphoto_91500_peachy_ravers.jpg