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What does one think of the word rave? Does ranting and raving come to mind as a way of communication or does flashing lights, dance music, and the use of drugs come to mind? If the youth of society were to be asked this question, every single of one of them would refer the word rave as a party filled with dance music and ecstasy. This youth movement has evolved into an electronic music subculture known as rave (Morris 1).
A subculture is a separate world within the larger dominant culture that has the same values of he dominant culture but is different enough to be classified as a subculture (Heinlein 46). The rave subculture can be also be classified as a counterculture, defined as a subculture with values and norms counter acting the values and norms of dominant society (Heinlein 47). Rave culture can be classified as a counterculture where the youth involved partake in multiple acts of deviance and violate the social norms. Deviance is the term used to refer to any violation of a norm in society (Heinlein 134).
Raves are deviant in multiple ways because they violate many arms in society. Raves violate norms to such an extent that crimes are being committed. Crimes are such extreme acts of deviance that they are written and made into laws by society (Heinlein 134). Many of these laws are broken at raves. The crime most commonly committed and associated with raves is drug use. Among all illegal drugs, ecstasy use is the most prevalent at electric dance music concerts, otherwise known as raves. Ecstasy is the common name for the illegal substance known as MADAM. MADAM is a methamphetamine that gets one going and feeling good.
Ecstasy is often offered to as a “feel good” drug because it gives you a heightened perception of sensation due to high amounts of serotonin that MADAM causes the release of (Hess). Other effects of ecstasy include elevated mood, calmness, sense of well-being, congeniality, compassion, and heightened sense of sexual pleasure (Hess). Ecstasy also suppresses the need to sleep or eat; one can stay up for multiple days without eating when on ecstasy (Hess). Jason Attackable, the author of “Rave new world”, stated that, “every youth will tell you its about the music.
But really, ecstasy is what makes a rave a rave” (1 The music is a very important part of the rave, it is what the crowd thrives on and what keeps the party going; but in reality, the culture is so embedded with drugs like ecstasy that without these drugs, electronic dance music would not be popular among the youth. Ecstasy is essential to a rave just as much as LSI was essential to the hippie culture of the sixties (Attackable 1 The youth take ecstasy when going to raves just as hippies took LSI when going to music festivals.
Ecstasy use is extremely prevalent among raves and it is what the raves thrive on. Ecstasy is the most frequent drug used at raves. According to a study done in Baltimore regarding the prevalence of ecstasy use among a sample of rave goers, 89 percent admitted to lifetime ecstasy use (Doodles 1). Out of the sample of rave attendees, twenty percent tested positive for ecstasy, meaning they took the drug with in the last forty-eight hours (Doodles 1). This study concluded that rave attendees are at high risk for ecstasy use and are more likely to abuse multiple drugs, not jus ecstasy (Doodles 2).
The increase use of ecstasy among the youth has “sparked the attention of health officials and policy makers” (Doodles 1). Such attention has been sparked regarding the rave phenomenon that the “U. S. Has taken a new approach to its war on drugs it has declared a war on ‘raves'”(Jordan 99). The government is well aware of the rave counterculture and they are well aware of the prevalence of ecstasy in the scene. Government believes that the deviance a rave causes to be great enough to write it in law and make such operations illegal. For the first time the government will be applying the “Federal Crack House Statue” to raves.
They will arrest and criminally prosecute rave promoters and mangers or ultimately making raves readily available for the use of ecstasy (Garden 99). Rave promoters and managers are also at blame for making the rave environment suitable for ecstasy users by selling things like pacifiers, light sticks, and Vicki vapor rub (Graded 99). Ecstasy users use these types of things to enhance their high throughout the night. Rave promoters are well aware that pacifiers signify ecstasy use at a rave and these promoters are going to be the ones at fault for providing a space knowing ecstasy use will occur. The rave culture is the product of ecstasy.
The reasoning behind all the norms of this counterculture is ecstasy. Even if some rave goers are not using ecstasy, the environment at a rave that results from ecstasy use can be jus as much considered deviant as actually taking ecstasy (Attackable 1). Although ecstasy produces a congenial and compassionate state of mind, it also causes a a heightened sense of sexual pleasure (Hess). Therefore, the user might be willing to get intimate with anyone, girl or guy. According to society, having sexual intercourse with out love is considered deviant and it is considered even more deviant to partake in same sex intercourse.
Ata rave many delinquents can be seen partaking in sexual acts on the dance floor, in the bathrooms, or even in corners. Another act of deviance that can be witnessed at a rave is nudity. Because of the heightened sexual awareness and the rise in body temperature as a result of ecstasy, it has become the norm at raves to wear little or close to nothing (Hess). Girls are commonly seen wearing just undergarments such as bras, thongs, and hosiery. Some girls go to the extreme and wear just pasties that solely cover their nipples ND on occasion women will be completely topless.
If a female was dressed like this outside of a rave, she would be breaking societal norms and may even be committing a crime. Taking illegal drugs, having sex, and walking around naked are all part of the rave culture. Taking ecstasy is a completely normal thing to do as a part of the rave subculture but society deems it as deviant and criminal act. This is why the rave subculture is considered a counterculture; the rave culture’s norms counter act a lot of society norms. It is not normal to be engaging in sexual activities with the same sex, but to raves, girls kissing girls is completely normal.
Society does not approve of women walking around only in undergarments, but to raves it is expected and completely normal. Raves tend to last well into the night if not all night. Many rave goers take ecstasy in order to stay up all night and party. Some raves and music festivals last multiple days and its the ecstasy that keeps the party goers going and partying for days on end (Hess). Partying for days straight without sleep is not a normal way of functioning in society and therefore it is an act of evince. The people of the rave subculture commonly partake in rituals that would never been Seen outside a rave.
Subcultures that are focused around one activity, like the rave subculture is centered around raves, usually develops special ways to communicate (Heinlein 46). The rave subculture has special rituals and symbols that outsiders would not understand. One of these includes trading beaded bracelets that they have made known as “candy”‘. In order to exchange this peace of “candy” with another person there is a ritual that must be completed. It starts off with making a heart with the other arson’s hand and ends with a hug once the “candy/’ bracelet has been traded.
An outsider would never understand that trading this bracelet in such fashion represents peace love unity and respect. Peace, love, unity and respect make up the acronym BLUR and is a very big part to the rave subculture. BLUR is another symbol that an outsider to the rave community would never understand. Another ritual part of the rave subculture is light shows. A light show is when one person spins sociologist or LED lights in such fashion to create “drippy” looking light trails viewable to a person on ecstasy.
Since one’s senses are heightened on ecstasy, these light shows are greatly intensified to those using. Light shows are extremely popular at raves and kids can be seen everywhere giving or receiving such light shows. Other less deviant rituals that’s have came from the rave subculture is forms of dance. Go-go dancing is extremely popular at raves; go-go dancers usually perform on stage with little clothing for added entertainment. Shuffling is also a common form of dance seen at raves and has become popular due to electronic dance music.
Other dance forms like liquidation and touting having also risen from the rave subculture. These forms of dance all came from the rave culture but can be seen as popular in society today. The general gist of a rave is seen as deviant because of the sex, drugs, and all night partying. Society frowns upon the rave goers mostly because of the ecstasy use that is associated so well with raves. Raves are so embedded with drugs like ecstasy that the government has taken notice and is now implementing laws. Laws are being put into place at raves because raves themselves are acts of deviance.
Since the rave subculture partakes in many Viviane acts such as using drugs and being nude, their culture is considered a counter culture because their norms counter act the norms of society.