11

Dance Music Culture:Dance Music Culture:Moral panics, hegemony Moral panics, hegemony

and ravingand ravingMAC351MAC351

robert.jewitt@sunderland.ac.ukrobert.jewitt@sunderland.ac.uk

22Dance Music Cultures

MAC351

33

IntroIntroHegemonyHegemony

Brief history of danceBrief history of danceMoral Panics & Criminal (in)Justice Moral Panics & Criminal (in)Justice Mainstreaming: Music & DrugsMainstreaming: Music & DrugsLeah Betts: A Moral Panic?Leah Betts: A Moral Panic?Moral Panics RevisitedMoral Panics RevisitedConclusionConclusion

44

IntroIntro ““The British state has a long history in regulating The British state has a long history in regulating

pleasures associated with parties. A fear seems pleasures associated with parties. A fear seems to exist of the unregulated body that dances and to exist of the unregulated body that dances and is intoxicated … It is therefore not surprising that is intoxicated … It is therefore not surprising that the acid house parties, that heady mix of the acid house parties, that heady mix of househouse’’nn’’E dance events in 1988, were followed E dance events in 1988, were followed by various moral panicsby various moral panics””

(Rietveld, 1998: 253-4)(Rietveld, 1998: 253-4)

Rave (1988-1993):Rave (1988-1993):Altern8, Spiral Tribe, System 7,Altern8, Spiral Tribe, System 7,Praga Kahn, Lil Louis, D MobPraga Kahn, Lil Louis, D Mob

Nu Rave (2006-7):Nu Rave (2006-7):Shit Disco, Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Shit Disco, Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, Revl9n, Black Strobe, etc Revl9n, Black Strobe, etc

55

66

Hegemony (Gramsci)Hegemony (Gramsci)

A process via which the dominant class in society A process via which the dominant class in society not only not only RULERULE a society but a society but LEAD LEAD it through it through ‘‘moral and intellectual leadershipmoral and intellectual leadership’’. .

Dominant Dominant -------------------------------------------------------------- Subordinate SubordinateIncorporation Incorporation ------------------------------------------------ Resistance Resistance

“compromise equilibrium” negotiation

77

HistoryHistory1988 and 1993 = Acid House & Raves1988 and 1993 = Acid House & Raves

‘‘Making its public debut in this country in Making its public debut in this country in 1988 in the shape of 1988 in the shape of ““acid houseacid house”” parties parties held in warehouses, fields and clubs, its held in warehouses, fields and clubs, its illicit status quickly increased until it found illicit status quickly increased until it found its way into legal club venues in the 1990s its way into legal club venues in the 1990s as the as the ““raverave”” scene scene’’

(Henderson, 1993: 121)(Henderson, 1993: 121)

88

2 main influences:2 main influences: American club culture and its influence American club culture and its influence

on Balearic beat (Ibizia)on Balearic beat (Ibizia) The popularity of the drug The popularity of the drug ‘‘ecstasyecstasy’’

(MDMA)(MDMA)

99

History (1985-87)History (1985-87) Origins (mid 80s): Origins (mid 80s): UK dance music rooted in black musical styleUK dance music rooted in black musical style

Chicago Chicago ‘‘househouse’’ music (gay) music (gay) Detroit Detroit ‘‘technotechno’’ (straight) (straight)

Spanish influenceSpanish influence IbiziaIbizia

European avant-garde popEuropean avant-garde pop Kraftwerk (late 70s)Kraftwerk (late 70s)

1010

Key features:Key features: Blend mixing & beat matching (Chicago: late Blend mixing & beat matching (Chicago: late

1970s)1970s) Balearic eclecticism (Ibiza: early 1980s)Balearic eclecticism (Ibiza: early 1980s) Electronic mode of production:Electronic mode of production:

using synthesizers, using synthesizers, drum machines, drum machines, sequencers,sequencers, samplers, samplers, MIDI computers MIDI computers

(Kraftwerk: 1970s; (Kraftwerk: 1970s; Giorgio Moroder/Donna Summer: 1977) 1977)

1111

House music in the UK:House music in the UK: 1986: Mike Pickering & Graeme Park (importing 1986: Mike Pickering & Graeme Park (importing

Chicago house records)Chicago house records) 1987: Danny Rampling, Paul Oakenfold & Nicky 1987: Danny Rampling, Paul Oakenfold & Nicky

Holloway (visit Ibizia)Holloway (visit Ibizia) Shoom, Future, Spectrum, The Trip, Hacienda, etcShoom, Future, Spectrum, The Trip, Hacienda, etc

1212

History (1988-1993)History (1988-1993) 1988: second 1988: second ““Summer of Summer of

LoveLove””Ecstasy (or Ecstasy (or ““EE””), warehouse ), warehouse

parties, outdoor raves.parties, outdoor raves. Release of Release of House Sounds of House Sounds of

ChicagoChicago Vol 3 Vol 3 1990: M25 orbital raves1990: M25 orbital raves

1313

The DJ – no longer passive The DJ – no longer passive ““record playerrecord player””

““The most celebrated DJs are often The most celebrated DJs are often involved in re-mixing other artistinvolved in re-mixing other artist’’s s recordings, providing a variety of recordings, providing a variety of interpretations of existing material. From interpretations of existing material. From the production side of studio work to the production side of studio work to composing new tracks themselves is a composing new tracks themselves is a small step which many DJs are able to small step which many DJs are able to take.take.””

(Langlois, 1992: 230)(Langlois, 1992: 230)

1414

Performer & consumer – initially no clear Performer & consumer – initially no clear hierarchyhierarchy

Growth of DJ-specific fanbaseGrowth of DJ-specific fanbaseSasha (@ Shelleys): Sasha (@ Shelleys): ““son of Godson of God”” International residenciesInternational residencies

1515

Organisation Organisation Info on a Info on a ““need to knowneed to know”” basis basisSecretive / underground:Secretive / underground:

subcultural capital (Bourdieu)subcultural capital (Bourdieu)

Threats from police raidsThreats from police raidsFlyers with numbers for automated phone Flyers with numbers for automated phone

messages and meeting pointsmessages and meeting points

1616

““While subcultural refusals have been While subcultural refusals have been traditionally effected through the traditionally effected through the statements of self-expression and the statements of self-expression and the displays of alternative identity, Acid house displays of alternative identity, Acid house has relinquished this ground … The has relinquished this ground … The strategy of resistance to the sense of strategy of resistance to the sense of identity necessitates identity necessitates anan escape from the escape from the (media) gaze(media) gaze, as, unlike previous , as, unlike previous subcultures which remain subcultures which remain ‘‘hiding in the hiding in the lightlight’’ (Hebdige, 1988: 35), a whole (Hebdige, 1988: 35), a whole subculture attempts to vanish.subculture attempts to vanish.””

(Melechi, 1993:38) (Melechi, 1993:38)

1717

Huge profits for rave organisers (£50000 Huge profits for rave organisers (£50000 per time)per time)

‘‘the biggest youth subculture that Britain the biggest youth subculture that Britain had ever seenhad ever seen’’

(McDermott et al, 1993: 25)(McDermott et al, 1993: 25)1992:1992:

UK club market annual turnover: £2 billionUK club market annual turnover: £2 billion raves worth a further £1.8 billionraves worth a further £1.8 billion

(Thornton, 1995: 15; Henderson, 1993)(Thornton, 1995: 15; Henderson, 1993)

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Moral Panics & Criminal Moral Panics & Criminal (in)Justice(in)Justice

‘‘Moral PanicMoral Panic’’ (Stan Cohen: 1972) (Stan Cohen: 1972)

1919

Mods & Rockers – Clacton Mods & Rockers – Clacton 19641964

Media reports on youth culture Media reports on youth culture = = ‘‘folk devilsfolk devils’’

1980s & 1980s & ‘‘acid houseacid house’’ – – MDMA / MDMA / ‘‘EE’’

Not a routinely highly visible Not a routinely highly visible subculturesubculture

2020

Early media attention was unusually positiveEarly media attention was unusually positive Quickly turned negative:Quickly turned negative:

““Killer CultKiller Cult”” ““In the grip of EIn the grip of E”” ““Rave to the GraveRave to the Grave””

"Junkies flaunt their craving by wearing T-shirts sold at "Junkies flaunt their craving by wearing T-shirts sold at the club bearing messages like 'can you feel it?' & the club bearing messages like 'can you feel it?' & 'drop acid not bombs'"'drop acid not bombs'" ( (The SunThe Sun, Aug 17, Aug 17thth, 1988), 1988)

2121

1989: BBC ban all 1989: BBC ban all records with the word records with the word ‘‘acidacid’’ in them in them

June 24June 24thth 1989, 1989, Midsummer Night Dream Midsummer Night Dream Party at White Waltham Party at White Waltham airstrip in Berkshire, airstrip in Berkshire, organised by Sunriseorganised by Sunrise

11000 people attend11000 people attend

2222

Midsummer Night Dream PartyMidsummer Night Dream Party

‘‘a façade for dealing in drugsa façade for dealing in drugs’’, , ‘‘a cynical attempt to trap young people into drug a cynical attempt to trap young people into drug

dependency under the guise of friendly pop dependency under the guise of friendly pop music eventsmusic events’’

Daily MirrorDaily Mirror (June 26 (June 26thth, 1989), 1989)

2323

Criminal (in)Justice?Criminal (in)Justice?Public Entertainments Act (1982)Public Entertainments Act (1982)

no licence, private functionsno licence, private functions

Private Places of Entertainment Act (1967)Private Places of Entertainment Act (1967)private function making profit needs licence private function making profit needs licence

2424

North West Kent police, Chief North West Kent police, Chief Superintendent Ken TappendenSuperintendent Ken Tappenden

Pay Party UnitPay Party Unit

‘‘When we started to tell MPs and When we started to tell MPs and the Home Office what was really the Home Office what was really going on, they wouldngoing on, they wouldn’’t believe it. t believe it. It was always denied by everyone, It was always denied by everyone, including the governmentincluding the government’’

(Collin, 1998: 107)(Collin, 1998: 107)

2525

‘‘These were nice kids – my son, These were nice kids – my son, your sonyour son’’

‘‘We did a sweep of the field after We did a sweep of the field after theythey’’d gone, you could see the d gone, you could see the packets of drugs all over the packets of drugs all over the place. Most of the kids were place. Most of the kids were spaced outspaced out’’

2626

July 1990: Police given new powersJuly 1990: Police given new powers- MP Graham Bright's Entertainment's (Increased - MP Graham Bright's Entertainment's (Increased

Penalties) Bill 1990 passed in Parliament without Penalties) Bill 1990 passed in Parliament without oppositionopposition

- Fines raised from £200 for unlicensed parties to - Fines raised from £200 for unlicensed parties to £20,000 and 6 months imprisonment£20,000 and 6 months imprisonment

- Equipment confiscation- Equipment confiscation

2727

Tony Colston-Hayter campaigns to extend Tony Colston-Hayter campaigns to extend licensing hours beyond 3am.licensing hours beyond 3am.

February 1990: February 1990: ‘‘Freedom to PartyFreedom to Party’’ rallies rallies in Trafalgar Square and Manchester. in Trafalgar Square and Manchester.

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Castlemorton 1992Castlemorton 1992•Organised by Spiral Tribe

•40,000 attended

•Largest UK rave

2929

Criminal Justice Act (1994)Criminal Justice Act (1994) Raves targeted by authoritiesRaves targeted by authorities Sections 63, 64, 65 and 66Sections 63, 64, 65 and 66

‘‘a gathering on land in the open air of 100 or a gathering on land in the open air of 100 or more persons (whether or not trespassers) at more persons (whether or not trespassers) at which amplified music is played during the night which amplified music is played during the night (with or without intermissions) … and … "music" (with or without intermissions) … and … "music" includes sounds wholly or predominantly includes sounds wholly or predominantly characterised by the emission of a succession of characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats.repetitive beats.’’

3030

Police had power to arrest if:Police had power to arrest if:suspect 2+ people are preparing a ravesuspect 2+ people are preparing a ravesuspect 10+ people waiting for a ravesuspect 10+ people waiting for a rave100+ attending a rave100+ attending a rave

Section 65 lets any uniformed officer stop Section 65 lets any uniformed officer stop & redirect any person s/he believes may & redirect any person s/he believes may be on their way to a rave within a 5 mile be on their way to a rave within a 5 mile radius radius failure to comply leads to maximum fine of failure to comply leads to maximum fine of

£1000.£1000.

3131

Most visible victims of the bill:Most visible victims of the bill:New Age Travellers & road protestersNew Age Travellers & road protesters

New offences were made:New offences were made: trespassory assemblytrespassory assembly’’ ‘‘aggravated trespassaggravated trespassand and ‘‘trespass with intent to residetrespass with intent to reside’’

3232

Conversely had effect of politicising large Conversely had effect of politicising large section of youth culturesection of youth culture

July 1994 protests outside Downing StreetJuly 1994 protests outside Downing Street Riots in Hyde ParkRiots in Hyde Park

3333

Musicians helped mobilise population Musicians helped mobilise population (Auterche, Orbital, Prodigy, etc)(Auterche, Orbital, Prodigy, etc)

““How can the government stop young people How can the government stop young people having a good time. Fight this bollockshaving a good time. Fight this bollocks””

(sleeve notes (sleeve notes Music for the Jilted GenerationMusic for the Jilted Generation))

3434

Mainstreaming: Music & Mainstreaming: Music & DrugsDrugs

By 1995 rave culture enters mainstream = dance By 1995 rave culture enters mainstream = dance cultureculture

Becomes standard music policy in most clubsBecomes standard music policy in most clubs Success:Success:

Cream, Ministry of Sound, Radio 1, Top of the Cream, Ministry of Sound, Radio 1, Top of the PopsPops

““E GenerationE Generation”” or or ““Chemical generationChemical generation”” Drug prices fall with demand – EDrug prices fall with demand – E’’s:s:

£10-15 in 1994 >> under £10 in 1996 >> less £10-15 in 1994 >> under £10 in 1996 >> less than £1 in 2001-presentthan £1 in 2001-present

3535

Leah Betts: A Moral Panic?Leah Betts: A Moral Panic? Death: November 1995Death: November 1995

18th birthday party at parental 18th birthday party at parental home in village of Latchington.home in village of Latchington.

Parental supervision:Parental supervision: Father (ex-police)Father (ex-police) Mother (nurse)Mother (nurse)

““Just say no!Just say no!””

3636

Youths & drug use

Evil drug: E

Peddling poison to kids

Press response

Inquest into death

3737

Breakdown in traditional moral panic Breakdown in traditional moral panic framework after inquest resultsframework after inquest results

‘‘PurePure’’ MDMA – not poison MDMA – not poison

““Water intoxicationWater intoxication”” – osmotic pressure – osmotic pressure sucked blood into brain and made it swellsucked blood into brain and made it swell

Lord Justice verdict – ultimate Lord Justice verdict – ultimate responsibility lay with Leah herself.responsibility lay with Leah herself.

3838

no longer possible to simplify the cause & no longer possible to simplify the cause & effects of drug use in societyeffects of drug use in society

‘‘innocentinnocent’’ death renders it impossible to death renders it impossible to rely on traditional boundaries between rely on traditional boundaries between deviance & normalitydeviance & normality

huge shifts in perception regarding huge shifts in perception regarding acceptability, via mainstreaming of dance acceptability, via mainstreaming of dance music culturemusic culture

Moral Panics Today?Moral Panics Today?

3939

4040

Moral Panics RevisitedMoral Panics Revisited 3 distinct moral panics working in 3 distinct moral panics working in

tandem:tandem:1.1. RavesRaves2.2. EcstasyEcstasy3.3. New Age TravellersNew Age Travellers

4141

New Age TravellersNew Age Travellers Counter-cultural connotationsCounter-cultural connotationsMixed with the mainstream:Mixed with the mainstream:

Free festivals (Glastonbury pre 2000)Free festivals (Glastonbury pre 2000)Peace festivals (Greenham Common 1981 Peace festivals (Greenham Common 1981

onwards), onwards), Road protest (Twyford Down 1992-4)Road protest (Twyford Down 1992-4)Animal rights campaignsAnimal rights campaigns

4242

‘‘Battle of the BeanfieldBattle of the Beanfield’’ (1985) (1985)

4343

‘‘Battle of the BeanfieldBattle of the Beanfield’’ (1985) (1985)

4444

John Major (1992)John Major (1992)

"Society needs to condemn a little more and "Society needs to condemn a little more and understand a little less. New age travellers? Not understand a little less. New age travellers? Not in this age! Not in any age!"in this age! Not in any age!"

4545

OverallOverall Raves were institutionalisedRaves were institutionalised Ecstasy demonised in principle but Ecstasy demonised in principle but

condoned in practisecondoned in practise New Age Travellers/protestors were New Age Travellers/protestors were

suppressedsuppressed

Mainstreaming of drugs - incorporated into Mainstreaming of drugs - incorporated into cultureculture

Suppression of large outdoor illegal eventsSuppression of large outdoor illegal events

4646

ConclusionConclusion Many attempts by the state to intervene in youth Many attempts by the state to intervene in youth

cultures.cultures. Dance music is a diverse international culture: Dance music is a diverse international culture:

eclectic melange of styles and forms of expression. eclectic melange of styles and forms of expression. Contains the most visible aspect of drug use since Contains the most visible aspect of drug use since the counter culture of the 1960s.the counter culture of the 1960s.

State & media attempts to repress/criminalise this State & media attempts to repress/criminalise this culture = unanticipated widespread acceptance of culture = unanticipated widespread acceptance of dance music culture & drug use.dance music culture & drug use.

Positive outcomes? Recognition that drug use is Positive outcomes? Recognition that drug use is part of everyday life for some groups = plethora of part of everyday life for some groups = plethora of forums re: safety information.forums re: safety information.

4747

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