NCJ Number
194995
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 11-18
Date Published
March 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study focused on theoretical issues to do with the construction of identity by the participants of the Melbourne (Australia) rave scene.
Abstract
Rave parties are events at which participants enter a fantasy world dominated by loud techno music. Some have suggested that a feeling of unity arises at raves that is not common in other forms of nighttime entertainment, and ask whether or not ravers form a collective identity. The questions about unity and identity are significant in the context of raves. Raves originated in England in the 1980's with the appearance of the phenomenon known as Acid House. A large part of the concept of a rave is built upon sensory overload. The rave scene in London and Scotland was originally a working-class phenomenon. Most current ravers are middle class, and participants of different ethnicities and sexualities are accepted. Data were derived from surveys, interviews, and six years personal experience of the expanding Melbourne rave scene. The socioeconomic background of Melbourne raves varied but tended to border on affluent. For over 55 percent on respondents, the main reason for attending raves was the music played by the disk jockeys. The crowd was rated the second most important reason at just over 15 percent, closely followed by all aspects of a rave party, which totaled exactly 15 percent. Participants were predominately under the age of 25. Music, dancing, drug taking, and a feeling of safety to varying degrees assist a collective identity forming at rave parties. The music, lasers, and dancing ravers provided them with the opportunity to feel a collective emotion usually referred to by ravers as “the vibe.” It is inappropriate to understand raves in terms of conventional approaches to “youth subcultures” which assume total identification with the subculture. The concept of “multiple identities” captures the ways ravers move in and out of their raver identity and allows for the fact that, for most, it is just one part of their lives. 20 references