The Underground Scene Of American Culture Essay

The Underground Scene Of American Culture Essay, Research Paper

The Underground Scene of American Culture

Picture it: the music is pumping, the lights are shooting through the smoke filled room, your body moves as if taken over by the beat. You look around, and smile, realizing that at that second every person in the room with you is your best friend. This was the very feeling I experience when I attended my first rave, called “Unity.” I had never experience music the way I did that summer weekend. It made me open my eyes to the culture that I had never knew of, and gave me a sense that I hadn’t felt in a while. It was a sense of belonging. Although I didn’t know anyone besides those I attended the event with, I still felt closer with complete strangers than I did with some that I have known my whole life.

Young American culture has always seemed fueled by the concept of having a good time. People in their late teens to early twenties are beginning to make choices on their own, including what they choose to do with their leisure time. However, there has been a culture that has been growing since the mid-80s that promotes equality, peace, and the love of music. Now, it is dangerously close to being eliminated from American society. The rave culture is that very one.

People from all walks of life attend these all night events, with nothing more in mind than peace, love, unity, and respect. They come from far and near with one common interest: the love of music. The euphoric beats are the pulse of the crowd, and the meaning of unity is never clearer. The feeling of togetherness and love provides a desirable escape from all the petty problems in our society. So, why can something that seems so innocent and peaceful, pose such a dominant threat.

There never seems to be one party (rave) that can be thrown anymore, without the arm of the local authorities far behind. This discourages many young people from going, for fear of getting arrested for something they may have no part in. This, in itself, is the real tragedy, as I believe that everyone should experience the joy of a party once in their lives. The scene has been growing at a rapid rate over the past few years. This has alarmed our nation, as most people who have never experienced a party only think of the stereotypical cornucopia of drugs. The rave culture has many positives to offer our growing, young American society, but unless it is realized for what it truly is, this culture may never reach the potential it possesses.

There always seems to be a generation in American culture that has its choice of music deemed “non-melodic noise.” In the 50s, it was Rock n’ Roll, the 70s was disco, and the late 80s/early 90s targeted hip-hop music. Now as we enter a new millennium, electronic music has been given that title. Its primary draw is to those who understand techno music and who have opened their mind to new experiences. To anyone with a closed mind toward this music, it’s often deemed nothing more than “repetitive beats thrown together with no lyrics.” However, the beats serve a much greater purpose to the many people who have an appreciation for them. They are often described with such terms as, immaculate, beautiful, and even orgasmic. This is just one of the reasons why only a small population truly understands the rave generation, its deeply emotional impact on those involved in it, and why those outside of it can only deem it “disturbing.”

Those exercising their concerns regarding the rave culture, mainly concentrate on nothing more than the obvious drug references. True, there are a lot of drugs in this scene. Some ravers do drugs to make them feel better. They may come from a dysfunctional family, and feel a need to escape. This isn’t the best way to escape, but it works for a brief period of time. Others do drugs because they want to fit in. They don’t understand that just being them self will work. The overwhelming increase of drugs is the main reason why society has had a watchful eye on the rave culture, and why it has been trying to shut it down. In 1993, for example, police nationwide seized 196 doses of ecstasy. In 1999, the number rose to 954,878(Pro 1).

Those, in American culture, who are heavy into the drug scene, come to parties for the sole purpose of getting high on a variety of different substances. Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is now the drug of choice at raves. It combines the hallucinogenic effects of LSD with the stimulants of speed. Ketamine, also know as Special K, is also gaining popularity among these individuals, as well as GHB and LSD (acid). Whether people like it or not, the drug world is a major part of our American culture, and the rave scene serves as a utopia for those individuals involved in it.

In the scene itself, there is a faction of people that do not condone drug use. Although a plethora of drugs are readily available at parties, they primarily serve as an escape for those involved with the scene. We are more mesmerized by the beautiful music. Most of us go to get away from society and all of the bull*censored*. At a rave, no one judges you, no one rejects you, and most of all, no one is better than you. Everyone is equal and free. We have different styles, but all are connected for the same reason-the music, the atmosphere, and most of all, the belonging that we feel. At dance clubs, people put on a front and ac