Subculture/Counterculture of Raves
Sami Piper
Kelly Davis
Sociology 100
10 October 2011
Raves and Ecstasy Rave. 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 the dominant culture but is different enough to be classified as a subculture (Henslin 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 (Henslin 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 (Henslin 134). Raves are deviant in multiple ways because they violate many norms 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 (Henslin 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 MDMA. MDMA is a methamphetamine that gets one going and feeling good. Ecstasy is often referred to as a “feel good” drug because it gives you a heightened perception of sensation due to high amounts of serotonin that MDMA causes the release of (Hess). Other effects of ecstasy include elevated mood, calmness, sense of
Kelly Davis
Sociology 100
10 October 2011
Raves and Ecstasy Rave. 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 the dominant culture but is different enough to be classified as a subculture (Henslin 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 (Henslin 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 (Henslin 134). Raves are deviant in multiple ways because they violate many norms 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 (Henslin 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 MDMA. MDMA is a methamphetamine that gets one going and feeling good. Ecstasy is often referred to as a “feel good” drug because it gives you a heightened perception of sensation due to high amounts of serotonin that MDMA causes the release of (Hess). Other effects of ecstasy include elevated mood, calmness, sense of
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