‘Epic Tribe’: An analysis of communitas in an underground rave movement

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Loisir et Societe

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

Underground rave communities have generally had a bad image within wider society. However, these communities are motivated to change society’s norms for the better. In this respect, this article analyzes the communal significance of underground psytrance rave communities. The research is focused on the underground community of Epic Tribe, which drives the underground psytrance rave culture within Malaysia. Informal interviews were conducted with ravers, and it was found that underground raves not only provide an experience of community, but that Epic Tribe promotes a different way of living which contrasts with the ravers’ regular lives wherein various forms of discrimination exist. Findings showed that listening and dancing to psytrance music while camping together with other ravers created a special bond among them which inspired a desire to change the world for the better.

ISSN

0705-3436

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

deviance, Psytrance, rave experience, underground community

Scopus ID

85197564000

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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