Liminal Fragility of Rave – an Autoethnographic Study Reflecting Insider’s Stay in the Field

• Authors: Orszulik Eduard Adam

Title variants

CS

Liminální křehkost ravu – autoetnografická studie reflektující insiderův pobyt v terénu

• Languages of publication: CS

Abstracts

EN

The study deals with the phenomenon of rave culture in the Czech Republic, to which only little social attention is currently paid. The article in particular reflects an insider’s stay in the field, while applying prevailing autoethnographic method. Attention is paid to questions exploring raves from the perspective of ritualism, which is conceptually framed in the theory of liminality, as discussed by Victor Turner. Emphasis is also put on the situation of the rave, which for many participants provides space for spiritual and transcendental experiences through which one can authentically discover his/her own identity and find his/her place in the world. The basic attribute, shaping a true rave, is to construct a safe-space for all participants, so that a space with an absolute respect can emerge. The ravers strictly define themselves against the mainstream club entertainment, a party that lacks implicit rules and the philosophy of rave. A significant feature of the rave is its longevity and excessive behaviour, when, within a collective experience, the ravers repetitively dance all night to produced electronic music.

Keywords

EN

Rave in the Czech Republic; autoethnography; liminality; spirituality; dance; electronic dance music

• Publisher: The National Institute of Folk Culture
• Journal: Národopisná revue (Journal of Ethnology)
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 53 - 67

Contributors

author

Orszulik Eduard Adam