Silk Road forums

Discussion => Philosophy, Economics and Justice => Topic started by: MariaSabina on August 02, 2013, 06:49 pm

Title: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: MariaSabina on August 02, 2013, 06:49 pm
I think Insomniac Events used to be an awesome group.  Not anymore.  Briefly, here's why.

1)  They think they are out to provide an experience.  This promotes passive consumption and eliminates the DIY ethic of a rave.
2)  They conduct TSA-style searches as a condition of entrance to their events.
3)  They are cooperating with narcotics officers who are working inside and outside of the parties to enforce drug laws.
4)  They have or have had rules which are ridiculous, or at least very questionable.  Here are just a few.  No sitting on the dance floor, which they enforced through "Get Up and Dance Crews" -- what happened to cuddle puddles?  No wearing of masks, so no Anonymous, Guy Fawkes, DPR, bandit, gas-mask, etc.-type costuming -- what happened to being able to dress how you want?
5)  Their ticket prices are ridiculously expensive.
6)  They mostly book big-name, famous DJs and producers, leaving few if any slots open for local and/or upcoming cats.
7)  They heavily promote consumption of alcohol.
8)  The are trying to turn into a nation-wide (or maybe even world-wide) company, pushing out local promotion "competition".

A lot of promoters are running things in a similar way.  Why are people spending so much money going to these type of events when they could put that money together and throw their own parties that would function as temporary autonomous zones?
Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: helpmywife on August 03, 2013, 07:28 am
and thats why NYC has its own scene..........in..........THE BROOKLYN UNDERGROUND!
Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: MariaSabina on August 03, 2013, 05:36 pm
Massive respect to BROOKLYN!  I got a little taste of youse a few months ago and thought it was quite proper.

Exhibit A for how far Insomniac have fallen:

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/AxDQSKeCIAEHMsg.png:large
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Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: helpmywife on August 05, 2013, 09:08 am
+1 Sabina for knowing its proper! has built the scene from the ground up since the 80's
Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: MariaSabina on August 06, 2013, 02:11 am
+1 Sabina for knowing its proper! has built the scene from the ground up since the 80's

Thank you and PLUR!  From Todd Terry to Frankie Knuckles, from Brooklyn to the Bronx, (and let's not forget Moby), youse know how to get down underground!

An interesting read that, though more focused on the UK, details some of New York's major contributions to ecstasy culture and acid house is the book Altered State by Matthew Collin.
Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: ruby123 on August 06, 2013, 03:07 am
Do you really think that Insomniac could even pull off such an event without participating with the police?...Just read the Rave Act.As much as everyone loves an underground free-for-all, in order for the party to continue certain rules need to be followed. Insurance/permit would require it.Even Ibiza went through a crack down....I have been to a few EDC parties and the events are a lot of fun. Like it or not EDM has gone mainstream.
Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: MariaSabina on August 06, 2013, 10:57 pm
Do you really think that Insomniac could even pull off such an event without participating with the police?

No, you're totally right, Ruby!  And that is the problem, as I see it.  I am saying that I'd prefer it smaller, if it were focused on freedom.  We like big parties because we think that means it's more acceptable; it's a cooler social card to play; it's like going to see Elvis in 1959.  The problem is merely that the rave scene was created as a reaction to having to be cool, to having to judge each other by some bogus cultural standard.  Rave said no to that type of game. 

And then Insomniac flipped the script.  They started saying yes to it!  What?   

Or think back to when Kesey and the Pranksters went to see the Beatles.  It was not the psychedelic love-in they were hoping for.  It was a freak-out spectacle.  We have this tendency to think that, if this is good, then more of it would be better.  But there's diminishing returns and then there's actual harm when things get too big.  This is the problem a lot of people have with multinational corporations.
Title: Re: Are Insomniac (and Groups Like Them) a Perversion/Recuperation of Rave Culture?
Post by: helpmywife on August 07, 2013, 05:24 am
because money twists everything and i feel a few ppl who are not individuals but sheep decided the ol mighty buck was whats needed and the scene can fuck itself they will eat off it as much as possible and change it to benefit them rather than the community.