Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect: The Moral Economy of Rave Culture
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC 271
Start Date
21-5-2015
End Date
21-5-2015
Keywords
Economy, Gifting, Consumption
Abstract
Each year tens of thousands of individuals travel great distances to the largest rave event in the Pacific Northwest, located at an outdoor arena in Washington State. Social expectations at rave events such as this are forged by the rave values of peace, love, unity, and respect, referred to by ravers as PLUR. Ravers promote PLUR through the sharing of drugs, alcohol, kandi bracelets, and costumes. This presentation analyzes fieldwork from this rave in order to contemplate apparent contradictions within rave culture that are fostered when the moral economy of PLUR meets conspicuous consumption. Ravers strive for an economy outside market forces while at the same time reinforcing market economy through ticket sales, camping supplies, costumes, and original payments made for bartering material. How do participants at raves practice solidarity yet remain individual, and how are these two positions reflected in moral obligations and economy?
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Brittany, "Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect: The Moral Economy of Rave Culture" (2015). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 49.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2015/oralpresentations/49
Department/Program
Anthropology & Museum Studies
Additional Mentoring Department
Anthropology & Museum Studies
Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect: The Moral Economy of Rave Culture
SURC 271
Each year tens of thousands of individuals travel great distances to the largest rave event in the Pacific Northwest, located at an outdoor arena in Washington State. Social expectations at rave events such as this are forged by the rave values of peace, love, unity, and respect, referred to by ravers as PLUR. Ravers promote PLUR through the sharing of drugs, alcohol, kandi bracelets, and costumes. This presentation analyzes fieldwork from this rave in order to contemplate apparent contradictions within rave culture that are fostered when the moral economy of PLUR meets conspicuous consumption. Ravers strive for an economy outside market forces while at the same time reinforcing market economy through ticket sales, camping supplies, costumes, and original payments made for bartering material. How do participants at raves practice solidarity yet remain individual, and how are these two positions reflected in moral obligations and economy?
Faculty Mentor(s)
Hope Amason