EDM Presentation:
http://prezi.com/jvnox_kubkzy/untitled-prezi/
Going through this quarter and being exposed to EDM music and its culture has opened my eyes up to a lot of things. When I was first choosing my topic, I wanted to focus on a culture of music that I could see myself liking, but had no knowledge whatsoever about. When interviewing my interlocutors I had their side of the story, but I wanted to experience everything first hand.
My interlocutors told me that EDM was amazing, and that I should experience it to its fullest potential.
What was this fullest potential? Both interlocutors gave me similar answers:
-RAVES
-MDMA
My interlocutors had been around this scene for about five years now and have seen how its changed. One of them is from Northern California and the other is from Los Angeles Area. When asking them how EDM was different here than in Nor Cal or LA they both said that Trance was heard more where they are from, and that the scene in San Diego has more bass and Upbeat sounds.
My first EDM event: Armin (Trance)
AMAZING. I fell in love with Trance. I was able to connect with what the music.
EDC Chicago
-I traveled to Chicago to experience EDM to the fullest. I wanted to immerse myself in this culture and what better way than the biggest event in N. America. While this event was a blast I couldn't help but look at everyone around me. People passed out, people carried out on stretchers, people puking. It was bad.
If I had to some up EDM into something it would be PLUR.
Peace
Love
Unity
Respect
Although it might not be all so pretty, most people that are attending these events know their limits, they know what their body can handle. Just like there is people who are responsible there are people that take this out of hand. Dozens of people are hospitalized and some even die. While this culture might look as pretty from an outside perspective, there are its dangers around it. I will continue to attend EDM events because I feel like I am part of this culture. I feel welcomed.
It's cool how you feel welcomed by the EDM culture. I think something that allows for this feeling is that it seems to be a genre that can be enjoyed by people on all points of the spectrum. One can be heavily involved and attend many events and use many questionable substances, or one can go when it is convenient and just enjoy jumping up and down with everyone. There isn't really a level of expertise or knowledge you need to participate, while for some other genres you may feel embarrassed if you are unfamiliar with some songs or musicians. I do wonder though, what life is like outside of the raves for some of the more hardcore fans. Drug use is definitely prevalent amongst the EDM community, but what happens to you after you use many drugs can stay with you long beyond the raves are over. There are amateur drug dealers that make the drugs themselves, so the purity and quality of some drugs cannot be attested for. I have heard some even have testing kits to make sure the drugs they consume are safe enough. For someone new to the community and unknowing about these things, there are many inherent dangers.
ReplyDeleteI find myself in a weird position when it comes to EDM. I love the music and I do a bit of production work myself, but I'm not so much into the rave culture therefore I wouldn't be able to make a well-informed opinion about it.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I believe is happening in the current state of EDM is that it's at its peak right now, maybe even on the way down. The EDM industry grew like wildfire over the past 5 years and can be analogized to a bubble. It's reached a point where its surface tension is going to make it explode. When and how that's going to happen, I don't know, but I believe that its prominent role on the radio can be both a blessing and a curse.
What Ryan said in class about the EDM culture was very striking to me and very much in contrast to your presentation. I was wondering if what Ryan saw when he was a part of the scene is still true in some aspects. Are there still people who are there and heavily troubled? And why might the EDM scene attract people like that? I was also curious about how tight law enforcement is about the use of drugs at EDM events and if there are commonly raids or a clash with the law at all. I'm also curious to know more about the companies that sponsor EDM events and who owns them, to see who might profit from having such large events.
ReplyDeleteYou raise some good questions Brett. I am curious about the level of enforcement for these kinds of events, especially considering how the scene has a reputation of being so closely associated to certain drugs. I would think that events tied to certain drugs would probably get more attention from police but from my experience, enforcement is the same as any other music event. For example, during the annual Smokeout Festival, the air is full of smoke and a lot of the audience is just openly lighting it up. There's disclaimers on the website for the festival about how weed or any other drugs are not allowed but I don't really think most people care, including the performers, some of who have a hand in organizing the event.
DeleteI have to agree with Eric when it comes to the progression of EDM music as whole. In my personal opinion, it is a music that has reached its maximum value and has little room to progress. I don't think it has much room for expansion as it leaves little room for artistic expressivity and creativeness.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting is the aspects of EDC that were captured by the audience to create such a phenomenon. What made it so unique that it was the chosen music of the time to be popularized and followed to the point of fandom? Not many musics of this day and age can claim that. The intricacies of the particular music are something that I find interesting to delve into. Any thoughts on the subject?