Possession Trance Ritual in Electronic Dance Music Culture: A Popular Ritual Technology for Reenchantment, Addressing the Crisis of the Homeless Self, and Reinserting the Individual into the Community

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter explores the relationships between Electronic Dance Music Culture (EDMC) and religion, meaning and spirituality. It briefly outlines some of the existing work in this area before presenting evidence of elements of religiosity found in EDMC during my research. A brief explanation of the historical roots of EDMC is followed by an investigation of transcendent experiences, of how these are perceived, the use of drugs to trigger them and how they relate to trance and possession. Evidence from the field of ethno-musicology is discussed in relation to EDMC, as is the way in which music and dance interact. The effect of individualization within postmodernity is addressed, as is EDMC as a ritual technology for social construction, creating community and openness with others. In conclusion, EDMC spirituality is defined and discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationExploring Religion and the Sacred in a Media Age
EditorsChristopher Deacy, Elisabeth Arweck
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter10
Pages169-188
Number of pages20
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9781351937580, 9781315255613
ISBN (Print)9780754665274, 9781138265813
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Apr 2009

Publication series

NameTheology and Religion in Interdisciplinary Perspective Series in Association with the BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group
PublisherRoutledge

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Possession Trance Ritual in Electronic Dance Music Culture: A Popular Ritual Technology for Reenchantment, Addressing the Crisis of the Homeless Self, and Reinserting the Individual into the Community'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this