Every culture has it’s own set of music, fashion and stereotypes. They’re defining factors that help to shape what the culture is. The rave sub culture is no different than any other culture. J.D. Lasica of the Sacramento Bee says that raves are “an entire subculture, complete with its own music, fashion, lingo, philosophy – and drug of choice, Ecstasy (1).” The fashion, music, and other characteristics of the rave scene are unique. The music of the rave scene can be categorized under Electronica, which can be sub-divided into multiple types of music. Each type of music, although still carrying some form of electronics, has a different sound. Some examples that author Jimi Fritz explained are:

Techno [music] uses the 4/4 beat structure and eight bar repeating structure to build predominately percussive tracks that use purely electronic sounds. Ambient music is designed to relax the listener. Generally under 90 bpm [beats per minute] or totally beatless. Happy Hardcore is fast and furious four-beat hardcore with wacky, speeded-up, cartoony vocals added (89-90).

These are just a few of over fifty different varieties there are of electronic music. Different people have different tastes and likes of which music is most appealing. Where as some people love the speeded-up, fast pace of Happy Hardcore, other’s despise it. The music that can be heard at raves is as diverse as the people who attend them are. Every culture or sub culture has a fashion, or a certain look that can classify the people who belong. Rave fashion extends from just baggy pants and hooded sweatshirts to the more flamboyantly glitter-clad, multi-colored plastic jewelry-wearing teenagers who may also wear fairy wings. Heather Morgan writes of the kids that she sees attending a rave. “Teenagers dressed uniformly in baggy jeans and hooded sweatshirts.” Many ravers although they have their own different and unique style of dress can be classified together because most ravers wear the traditional baggy jeans and hooded sweatshirts. This shows that to the common eye most ravers look exactly alike, which is how a fashion style unique to the rave scene was created. Denizet-Lewis who reported from inside the rave scene notices a boy “dressed in a white tank top, large furry pants, and what appears to be five pounds of children’s plastic jewelry around his neck (60).” Many ravers wear what is called candy or raver-beads, which are no more than brightly colored plastic beads made into necklaces and bracelets. Many ravers exchange bracelets throughout the course of the evening. It’s a friendly way to meet people and have a chance to exchange jewelry, smiles, and conversation. Ravers who wear tons of these bracelets and necklaces are often referred to as “Candy-Kids” which is just another form of fashion at raves. Candy-Kids usually wear brightly colored outfits, lots of glitter, stickers, and plastic jewelry. Throughout the rave scene, Candy-Kids are usually known as the nicest type of raver there is. Farley, writing for Time magazine states “ravers often wear loose, wide-legged jeans that flare out at the bottom. Knickknacks from childhood, like suckers, pacifiers, and dolls, are common accessories (70+).” A lot of the suckers and pacifiers that are seen around a rave have turned into a style. Originally kids who were rolling on ecstasy used suckers and pacifiers. Ecstasy causes jaw tension and teeth grinding and such devices were used to prevent those side effects. However pacifiers have gone from a practical use to a fashion statement. This ties into what author Jimi Fritz had to say about the style around the rave scene. “One of the defining characteristics of rave culture and a conspicuous influence on its sense of style is the preoccupation with innocence and child-like fun. Ravers love to play with children’s toys and will even bring teddy bears or other stuffed toys to parties (211).” A common theme when looking around at ravers at a party is how child-like the people who attend appear. Girls have their hair pulled back into ponytails and have children’s hair clips in. Boys and girls alike will carry around stuffed animals as well as other children’s toys. This is a way for a generation that is growing up to still hold onto their youth. This way they have a reminder of their playful and youthful side as they enter into the world of being grown-up. Raves allow for people to revert back into being young again, even if it’s just for the night. Sometimes that’s all it takes to relieve oneself of the stress they carry in the adult world.

Stereotypes are also something that every culture has. No culture exists that doesn’t carry along stereotypes with it. The rave scene holds more negative stereotypes than positive ones. A raver, James, who’s been attending parties for the past two and a half years, responded to some questions that I posted on a Web-Posting board. He states that the worst aspect of the rave scene is “the fact that a lot of people think that raves are nothing but ‘Drug Parties.’” This is one of the most common stereotypes that is placed upon the rave sub culture. People who are on the outside of this culture look at raves don’t realize the positive aspects that the rave culture can offer to teenagers. They would rather look at what an unsafe and dangerous place a rave can be, because of a rave’s reputation for drugs. Farley says, “the press is more interested in writing about drugs than about the music (70+).” The reason so many people only see raves as drug parties is because of how the media has depicted raves to the public. The media in all its ways, the newspapers, magazines, and television programs such as Dateline, 20/20, and 48 hours are spreading negative messages about raves to all it’s viewers and readers. The media is able to contort what is the truth and display it as only negative words surrounding what they believe raves are all about. Because of this the stereotypes that surround rave culture are mainly negative views that focus on the drugs that are in the culture rather then the positive experiences that can come out of the scene. Stallings, an editor of a dance culture magazine says “anything goes at a rave, and that’s both its strongest asset and its biggest flaw (qtd. Denizet-Lewis, 60).” This statement is true because raves allow most anything to go on. This is because of a rave’s free and accepting nature. This is a strong asset because there is no discrimination or hatred, but because of this free nature it’s also the rave’s greatest flaw. This is because along with positive experiences taking place there are also negative aspects that are coming into effect.

Drugs are one of the most negative aspect that surround any culture. With the media scrutinizing the rave scene so closely the exposure of the drug use at raves has been brought out into the public. Although there are drugs and drug use at raves not everyone does drugs. What drives the negativity towards drugs is that they are indeed dangerous and are a serious matter that can’t be dealt with lightly. Kennedy from the Dayton Daily News says “alcohol is banned but the drug of choice is Ecstasy.” This is almost a double-sided sword for raves. It’s a definite plus that alcohol isn’t allowed at raves, but contrary to that, drugs can still be found. By banning alcohol parents don’t have to worry about their kids drinking, but opposite that kids might then go out in search of drugs. At least with alcohol being served, one must be twenty-one years or older, and they are carded. With drugs there is no one there to place an age limit, or to stop the selling. Drugs are indeed a problem, not only for the rave culture but also in every culture. Ecstasy is the main drug that is used at raves. MDMA or Ecstasy’s effect on the brain is that it dramatically increases the availability of dopamine and serotonin. MDMA enhances touch, and sound, which is one reason people choose to use it at raves. Ecstasy is considered the “love-drug” in that it lowers people’s inhibitions, and makes the person feel relaxed, and open to all the people around them. The side effects to taking MDMA include: dry mouth, jittery nerves, slight nausea, jaw tension, teeth grinding, and an increase of body temperature. Another danger of Ecstasy is that it is rarely pure MDMA, but rather made up of other additives, so one can’t be sure of what’s in their drug (Reynolds, 81). Jack Newfield, a columnist, writes of a tragic happening surrounding drug use in the rave scene. “It involved an 18 year old who died after taking ecstasy in a club where the drug sold for $25 a tablet and water for $5 a bottle. The boy tried to suck water from the club’s bathroom tap that had been turned off so that those with drug-induced thirst would be forced to buy bottles water (qtd. Kotler,68).” This is a sad story that surrounds not only drug use, but also the cruel and greedy society that the American people have to live in. It’s not right to do drugs, but it is definitely immoral to shut off the water in a venue in order to force people there to buy over priced water. Water is essential to drink, especially when someone is on Ecstasy. Because Ecstasy increases body temperature, it makes the body become dehydrated. Drinking lots of water is key to keep the body from over heating. Heather Morgan writes how “parents worry that raves are a dangerous new form of rebellion, and excuse for kids to stay out all night in the company of drug dealers and bad influences. Raves also serve as a way for teenagers to hide their whereabouts from their parents.” This is another negative but true aspect surrounding the rave scene. Most parents are against letting their teenage children attend parties that last until the early hours of the morning that do have drugs in attendance as well. Parents feel that raves are an unsafe environment for their children. Some, but not all teenagers use raves as a way to hide from their parents, which isn’t right. That’s why there are many raves that have made their parties sixteen or even eighteen plus. This way raves are able to limit who can and can’t enter. Rolling Stone magazine writes “the problem, promoters say, is the growing bias against any event that bears the name ‘rave’ (Eliscu, 22).” This shows how much the media has destroyed the word rave. People automatically assume negative things because they associate those negative thoughts towards raves. However negative the drug problem is at raves, there are many people who try to turn all the negative attention away. Chelsea Kalberloh of Revolution magazine writes “officials need to know that our culture is not dangerous, that the presence of glow-sticks does not equal ‘crack house,’ and that our right to hear and perform dance music is, in fact, a right that we refuse to lose (77).” Although the outside world is cracking down hard laws against the rave culture, there are those in the culture who will continue to fight for their right to perform and dance to the music they love. Also it shows how the media and law officials need to realize that the paraphernalia they associate with drugs that are found at raves don’t automatically make raves a drug haven. This is the media making it’s own conclusion about what really goes on at rave parties. James, a raver, states “The music and good vibes alone are my ‘drugs.’ And that’s all I need.” Although people do use drugs at raves not every person there feels that they need to. There are many ravers who feel that they don’t need drugs to have a good time and that the music alone is enough. XTORT Productions, a crew of four people who host raves say “The worst thing [about raves] is the drugs. It’s those 10% that ruin it for the other 90% who go for the music.” XTORT is a promoting crew who deal with raves at least once a month. They have an insider’s opinion about what transpires during a rave. Their feeling is that there aren’t really that many kids who do drugs, however they note that it’s the people who decide to do drugs that can ruin it for the majority of the people who don’t do drugs. Rozanski, a raver, says "Some kids do drugs just to be part of that whole culture (qtd. Morgan).” This is a very negative, but true aspect of the rave culture, which is dangerous. That kids feel that in order to be accepted into the culture, they have to do drugs.

Drugs are seen as the worst part of the rave culture from someone who views the culture from the outside; the media and someone who has never actually experienced going to a rave. From an insider’s point of view one of the worst aspects, if not the worst, is that the rave sub culture is being exploited by the media and trying to be sold by large corporations who are trying to make the underground culture mainstream in order to make money. Heather Morgan writes, “there’s an attempt by large corporations to cash in on the rave subculture. The rave movement is being exploited by corporations that want to convert their subculture into mainstream hip, to better sell rave clothes and music.” Businesses are making money off of yet another subculture that is popular. Fashion is one of the main aspects that a business can make a profit off of. By marketing clothing that the stereotypical raver would wear, teenagers will consume this product so that they look the right part. Businesses are able to put out products that people will buy because right now people are being ravers because that is what’s in. Jeff, another raver who answered my questionnaire that I posted online, has been a raver since the early 90s, says “it seems like anyone with mommy’s credit-card and an identity crisis is becoming a raver.” This is becoming more and more common of a trend because of the corporations that are cashing in on the rave culture. There are extensive lines of raver-exclusive clothing. Many people dress like a raver but don’t really know much about the music and some haven’t ever been to a rave but they need to feel the excepted into the new wave of what’s cool. Heather Morgan states, “now those who were looked down on by more mainstream students, are becoming hipsters, and non-ravers often attempt to copy their look as it catches on in the media.” This shows that when the media makes a style hip and new people want to copy it so that they can be with the times. There are many teenagers who are devoted to feeling accepted as the styles change, and when the media offers a new type of style that is slowly becoming cool, teenagers flock to become exact clones of each other, as long as they gain the acceptance they are seeking. StEph a writer for Revolution says, “EVERYONE looks like a freakin clone (68).” StEph is also a raver from the New York area who has been into the rave scene since the earlier days, before it gained popularity. She mentions how everyone looks the same now because of how available everything is to get. Before the rave culture became mainstream most ravers made their own clothes and outfits that they wore to parties. This gave everyone a very unique look, which has been dying down since there are multiple lines of “raver clothing” available. Such clothing lines as Kikwear, Caffeine, and UFO sell pants that are widely seen throughout raves. In fact I’ve been to raves where I have seen at least ten people wearing the exact same pants. They are all the same brand name. Dina, better known as DJ Dragn’Fly, a well-known DJ in the Northern California area says “what I really find disheartening about the ‘scene’ these days is the false interpretations of its roots resulting in exploitation by the media. I also dislike the fact that raves have become so accessible and mainstream.” DJs are the soul of the rave scene and as an insider they offer very valid and interesting points of view. DJ Dragn’Fly notices the increased popularity of the rave scene, and is saddened by how they are no longer underground, but accessible for anyone to come. And when anyone comes, most of the time teenagers come who don’t care about the music, and don’t understand the sub culture. A lot of them are just there for drugs. Revolution magazine writes “CK Jeans, Rio, and the Gap have used DJs as models and dance music as soundtracks to make their products seem hip to new and younger buyers (Kalberloh, 74).” This is another way the corporations and media are using the rave culture to help sell their items.

Although there are negative aspects to the rave culture, there are many more positive aspects that can outweigh the bad. The main positive aspect, the most important, is this idea of acceptance; of feeling accepted. Teenagers strive to feel like they belong somewhere, that they have a family in some group. James, a raver, says, “I am always accepted. Even when I first started [raving]. No one judged me. It’s like a family.” This is how a raver feels about raves. He finds them a very accepting place where teenagers can find a family. There is also a family value to the rave culture. Everyone shares, whether it’s hugs, smiles, laughter, or a bottle of water. There is a very communal feeling that surrounds the scene. I know sometimes when I attend raves people who I am dancing next to will offer their bottle of water to me, which I find a really kind gesture. Heather Morgan writes “the rave subculture provides kids with an environment of social acceptance that can be safer than the traditional teenage beer bash.” This writer feels that many kids go to raves because of how easy it is to be accepted and also that it’s a safer circle to be accepted into. Raves are better than High School parties where teenagers are pressured to go and drink alcohol to feel accepted. Rozanski, a fifteen year old raver, tells Heather Morgan “she feels that members of her raver group were at first forced together socially at Boulder High School when they failed to fit into the more clean-cut cliques of jocks and ‘preppies.’ She said they were looked down on by more mainstream students.” Many teenagers turn toward the rave sub culture because they know they can find acceptance there when they were unable to find acceptance with the mainstream cliques that looked down on them for being so different. The rave sub culture is accepting of everyone and links everyone together by a common love of music, and each other. The nice thing about raves is that they accept anyone. It doesn’t matter if the kids are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, poor, rich, gay, or straight. Christine Denning, a High School counselor says “the activity and the socialization that surrounds raves fill the kids’ need to belong to a group (qtd. Morgan).” Teenagers seek out raves to fill the longing in their life. The longing to be accepted, and belong to part of a group. All teenagers want to have the ability to be social and have a good time with people who won’t judge you. Denizet-Lewis writes “but what’s often overlooked in the news reports is that this is a scene of particular importance to gay youth (60).” I found this very surprising. At raves no one cares how you act, and it allows the homosexual youth a chance to come out and be themselves in a public area where no one will discriminate against them. Raves serve as a safe environment for homosexual youth to express how they are and not feel worried that they will be ridiculed for it. Darren, a raver, says “but you know, that’s what this scene is all about. You can be whatever you want. There’s no gay, straight, none of that societal crap. Everyone can be bisexual here (qtd. Denizet-Lewis, 60).” There is the acceptance of sexuality at raves, which is something that isn’t happening in everyday society. Also by raves being so open to sexuality, it gives a chance to straight kids to interact with homosexual kids and realize there is nothing wrong with being gay. At raves teenagers will hug members of the same sex, and they know it’s a safe action to do. A raver from the Netherlands says “the beauty of sexuality in the rave scene is that everyone is equal. No one is ashamed of how or what he or she is (qtd. Fritz, 166).” It’s a wonderful thing that there is an acceptance of everyone at a rave. Jimi Fritz writes “The rave movement has done more for gender relations than any other popular movement in history, and continues to this day to provide a bridge between the worlds of gays and straight (162).” This is a very important aspect because the world needs to shrink the gap between the gay world and the straight world. Raves are starting the beginning of something that needs to continue outside of the scene. Everyday society can learn something important from the rave culture if only they would look past all the negative aspects. Raves offer almost a utopian society for teenagers to safely live in and find acceptance.

A philosophy in the rave scene is this idea of P.L.U.R., which is an acronym for Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. Heather Morgan writes “Peace, Love, Unity and Respect (PLUR) is a code invoked frequently by those inside the rave subculture.” This is true. Many people inside the rave culture try hold themselves true to this philosophy and try to live their life by it. PLUR holds positive thoughts, and a wonderful hope for a better world.

Music is the center of the whole rave culture, and also a positive aspect that ties thousands of strangers together. Heather Morgan writes “The subculture that formed around the music, evolved into raves. The music and the DJs that spin it remain central to the all-night parties.” Raves really began as a sub culture that focused on the music first, and later it became more. Fashion and stereotypes slowly seeped into this music-oriented culture and made raves a full-fledged sub culture. Popular DJ Simon Apex says “I DJ because I love the music, the people and the rush of performing in front of thousands of people.” DJs don’t make a lot of money but become DJs because of their love for the music. DJs know they are essential to the scene, and enjoy feeling the crowd cheer for their music, their art. DJ Dragn’Fly says “I DJ because it’s fun, it allows me (a usually shy person) to express myself in an artistic way. It’s actually helped me develop into a more outgoing and confident person, which is a definite plus.” By becoming a DJ, Dragn’Fly was able to express her talent and by performing in front of hundreds of people, it helped her gain more confidence in herself. DJs not only gain benefits of their own, but offer inspiration and joy to the ravers who flock to come and watch a DJ spin.

Raves although suffering hard scrutiny and bad reputation from the media hold valuable experiences and positive aspects for all different types of teenagers. Raves can help shape teenage identity by helping teenagers find a group that is accepting and teaches peaceful philosophy. Sue Cummings from Rolling Stone writes “rave culture seems to give young people a way to envision the future, both with its utopian fantasies and its embrace of technology (15).” Raves do help young people envision a better future for themselves and the world they live in. I know raving has always been a positive experience for me, and helped me to become more outgoing. I wasn’t afraid to start up conversations with strangers, and I felt free to be who I wanted to be. I know that by going to raves and feeling the acceptance of hundreds of strangers, it helped shape who I am today. I try to be nice to everyone, knowing that they could be struggling to just feel like they belong. Raves to me, are magical places where anything can happen.

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