The rest of the world identifies us as one collective body. Meanwhile, the dance music community is busy ripping itself apart, segmenting into these judgmental stereotypes and preventing the very unity which defines it.
We must consider how the consequences of today’s actions will translate into tomorrow’s existence. The future of our scene rests quietly in the palm of everyone associated; Next move is on us all.
Recently I’ve witnessed a few things devastating to the way our culture is being depicted. And the worst part is that the people holding authority in this space are the same ones compromising how the world views the taboo term “rave”. We fill the hole in today but tomorrow we’ll dig it twice as deep…Why?
One specific account though, a viral image of two teens engaging in lude sexual behavior at a festival raised the question in my mind. What carries more detrimental weight as to how our community is viewed? The act itself or the reaction of taking a picture and sharing it online?
It was the latter which turned a lost moment into a visual web paper-trail. The latter turned a young girls’ poor decision into a situation humiliating enough to potentially push her away from this music, to strip her from the possibility of meaningful experiences down the road. All could have been avoided with a thoughtful reaction. We’re better than that. As people, parents, siblings, and friends, we owe one another more respect. You can’t glamorize valleys as comical relief and expect the world to appreciate the sophistication of its peaks. It just doesn’t work like that.
Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but the attitude we bring to life.- Wade Boggs, MLB Hall of Fame
Fractions of a man’s pride lie within his integrity. But we continue contributing to the stigma at the expense of others instead of evaluating cause and effect – progressive thought vs. detrimental reaction – all for a couple lackluster lulz with our friends.
Control What’s In Your Power
EDM, raves, festivals, live techno dance music with lights and bass. Whatever you want to call it, the popularity is growing faster than ever and the demographic responsible for this developing trend is an impressionable, naturally immature age range (15-early 20’s). Anyone else is either too young or simply old enough to have gained exposure before the boom.
We cannot prevent the influx of adolescents attending these events. The simple truth: kids will be kids (sometimes unfortunately even over the age of 18). We can’t determine their actions, however, we can control the nature of our reactions to the situations presented.
If the consensus should hold festival attendees to some unspoken general standard of conduct, great; But it must be reciprocal. Regardless of the situation, our reactions need to meet those same moral standards. I believe this is a fair and logical assumption.
Be conscious of the way your actions effect the bigger picture. Continuing to combat immaturity with immaturity will only paint an image of a culture divided. It’s less about “acting like an adult,” and more about considering the true meaning of live dance: Self expression in an environment free of predisposition. Where, for a short moment, life’s problems disperse into the prevailing winds. We’ve all shared that feeling, if nothing else.
Without regard, the outside world will continue identifying us as one. It’s our job to manifest love from within because without the music, all we have is one another. Dance beats and instrumental tempo favor no race, gender, sexual preference or political affiliation. Its soul is elder, gracing every inch of this earth since the beginning of time. We’ve been given the opportunity to be a part of its age-old story, a magnitude much greater than any one individual. The tale is ours to write and it requires accountability.
Let’s stop feasting on the vulnerability of others and worry instead about improving ourselves. That’s where the real change begins.
How Can You Make a Difference?
“Don’t address the army. Address but one soldier instead and the rest will follow.”Change has a multiplier effect. Influence one person to influence another. Remember this is a journey.
Learn to enjoy shows without substance consumption, alcohol included. Only when you decide to leave the vice behind and give the music its chance as the sole physical and emotional influencer can its true power be measured.
Put your phone away and leave it away. True mystique of festivals and live performances can only be captured in the moment. Your memory will record the experience.Take a moment to introduce someone new to electronic dance music and have a constructive discussion on the culture. Tell them about the history, the genres, the memories you’ve made and the people you’ve met.
Reserve judgement. Give everyone a chance regardless of what they look like. This article defending kandi kids is a great read for anyone who doesn’t understand the beaded, self-expression aspect of rave culture.
Talk to the kid wearing the “Sex, Drugs and Dubstep” t-shirt about the power of individuality and expression. Tell him that he can and will find more happiness by dropping the need to feel like his shirt defines him.
Step in and stop the girl from humping the tree. Refrain from taking that picture of someone else. Be the person who thinks about the tomorrow’s smile rather than today’s laugh.
Know what you are getting into. The atmosphere at Ultra or EDC is much different than a festival like Wakarusa or Electric Forest. Know what you prefer and be understanding when you enter an environment that differs from that preference.
Encourage knowledge, moderation, health and hydration. Be a friend. Share good music. Share an experience. Bring a friend to that dim lit, deep house club at 2am for their first time and I promise it won’t be forgotten. Be open minded and smile. Remember nothing in life is perfect and that’s why we dance.
And for the kids who might be struggling to discover themselves: These are new places, new people and new music. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable and cling to the world you know but remind yourself that the point is to be free. We will accept you and your differences with a smile. Above all, do what makes you happy and find someone you love to enjoy every last bit of it with. You’ll never be alone again.
A short anecdote from the author:
This is an opinionated editorial and is intended to solely reflect my personal opinion rather than WRR as an outlet. The lude image mentioned throughout this piece is simply a microcosm of the growing problem overall.
My name is Wade Davis and the edm community didn’t save my life. Instead, it let me watch the world in color for the first time. I grew up in a backwards town where cultural diversity wasn’t exactly….celebrated. My first electronic music experience opened naive eyes to reality and changed my perception on everything. No words can accurately describe the roller coaster of that particular afternoon.
I acquired the ability to generate emotional recall. I learned that the dance floor was the one place where worry and predisposition refused to roam….and it should always remain a place free of fear. Humility not humiliation, friends.
Much love,
Follow @WordByWade
Wade – plf
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