by Sandra Beckmeier

In 1974, Anais Nin, a diva of erotic literature, gave a lecture for a group of female artists in San Francisco. She focused on her experience of life as a woman and writer, outlining her unique perceptions of people while examining why one creates. She said, "I believe people write to create a world in which one can live. I could not live in any of the worlds offered to me -- the world of my parents, the world of war, the world of politics. I had to create a world of my own, like a climate, a country, an atmosphere in which I could breathe, reign, and recreate myself when destroyed by living. That, I believe, is the reason for every work of art. We do not escape into philosophy, psychology and art -- we go there to restore our shattered selves into whole ones."

In the midst of the cultural "dark ages," Nin's insight is proven and highlighted. What isn't close to the center is simply an introduction into the avant garde. Composer Edgar Varese said, "there is no avant garde. There are only people who are a little late." What is interesting is the uncommon presentations with unifying messages and how they are translated through the media, or what is steadfastly becoming known as "popular opinion."

For example, a year or so ago I read an interesting article about raving in the British Press Bureau which seemed to be a staunch opponent of gatherings which were obviously opposed to authoritarian belief systems. The Bureau's coverage built its argument against the use of drugs, using a moral platform as the foundation of the argument. I'm certainly not condoning drug use as a form of self-destruction for anyone. But the underpinning of their morality was clearly an oversight, yet a common distortion of opinion when the purpose of a gathering, such as a rave, is completely overlooked. What amazes me is how frequent cultures, communities or individuals are impounded under moralism when they are simply victimized by intolerance because they are functioning in a non-established way. Their purpose is not necessarily a defiance, but a promotion toward acceptance, tolerance, and change.

I'm not suggesting that when a hundred people from diverse backgrounds and classes come together there won't be an eruption of some form of violence and or exploitation. Certainly there is always a slow evolution for human behavior in settings such as this, but I think the ideal is what should and could be promoted by the media spotlight, instead of random acts of grazing.

Raving acts as an adhesive to humanitarian ideals, bringing multi-culturalism in front of mirrors. In modern society we perceive and are perceived as groups, not as individuals. There is so much emphasis on what we are supposed to be as opposed to who we are. Individualism has been lost in the trappings of stereotypes while identities have been shaped through the eyes of our peers. Breaking away from the stereotypes requires a different kind of introspection. Some fight fiercely for independence, as if straining to be "different." What falls behind is the rebuttal belief, "when the 'selves' of society are recovered, the power of the Corporate State will end." I don't understand on a personal level why it is so difficult to translate what is essentially the definition of prejudice by the sanctity of mainstream money-shaking America.

Raves provide a place for cohesiveness between diversity. It doesn't matter what kind of car you've got sitting outside a rave as long as you are mentally capable of accepting a simple ideal with the intent to take it with you back into society where it is a subconscious struggle against generalities.

In many ways raves appear to be a resurrection of the goals set in the 1960s, when examining the domination of false goals and consciousness served the needs of a growing country in spite of and in opposition to the Vietnam War. The liberating encouragement of self-discovery and its process (disconnecting from the one we've been programmed to be as children or as adults) can be released. People are obviously capable of functioning as a community, adopting a separate code of ethics and behavior that is not encouraged in the everyday world. But thinking about the age-old rule of thumb, "don't talk to strangers," raving provides yet another uncommon way of healing these safety nets and directing a kind of growth through ritualistic celebration.

Raves are another way folks can gather together once in a while to expand consciousness and celebrate life, rhythm, and dance. During shared moments of ecstatic joy, people share who they are and advance visions of a harmonious planet. The political content of the music is native, and stimulates a reduction of ego-role behavior decreasing one's need for power. At 120-220 bpm, it is full-throttle trance-formation, when the "chaos theory hits the soundscapes of civilization." It's not about pushing vinyl, it's a living ideal and a rejection of hostility which is a fade-out for the words peace, love, unity and most of all -- respect.