Exploring Psychedelic Trance and Electronic Dance Music in Modern Culture

400 Pages·2015·8.778 MB·English

by  Emília Simão

Exploring Psychedelic
Trance and Electronic
Dance Music in Modern
Culture
Emília Simão
Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
Armando Malheiro da Silva
University of Porto, Portugal
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães
Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
Managing Director: Lindsay Johnston
Managing Editor: Austin DeMarco
Director of Intellectual Property & Contracts: Jan Travers
Acquisitions Editor: Kayla Wolfe
Production Editor: Christina Henning
Cover Design: Jason Mull
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CIP Data Pending
ISBN: 978-1-4666-8665-6
eISBN: 978-1-4666-8666-3
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All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in
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Editorial Advisory Board
Célia Maria Martins Soares, Instituto Superior da Maia, Portugal
Heitor Manuel Pereira Pinto da Cunha Alvelos, University of Porto, Portugal
José Manuel Pereira Azevedo, University of Porto, Portugal
José Carlos Lopes de Miranda, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
Manuel Antunes da Cunha, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
Maria José Mendes Monteiro Amorim Rios de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic
University, Portugal
J. Mark Percival, Queen Margaret University, UK
Matthew Worley, University of Reading, UK
Maria Paula de Abreu Ferreira da Silva, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Paula Maria Guerra Tavares, University of Porto, Portugal
Tim Alexander Majchrzak, Muenster University, Germany
Vítor Júlio da Silva e Sá, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
William Straw, McGill University, Canada
Table of Contents
Foreword.............................................................................................................xiii
; ;
Preface..................................................................................................................xv
; ;
Chapter 1
;
Biogenetic.Structural.Perspectives.on.Shamanism.and.Raves:.The.Origins.of.
Collective.Ritual.Dance..........................................................................................1
; ;
Michael James Winkelman, Arizona State University, USA
; ;
Chapter 2
;
The.Roots.of.Trance:.Reflections.of.Space.Rock,.Psychedelia,.Krautrock,.and.
Post.Punk.Live.in.the.1970s.and.1980s................................................................38
; ;
Peter Smith, University of Sunderland, UK
; ;
Chapter 3
;
Transformational.Festivals:.A.New.Religious.Movement?..................................58
; ;
Andrew Johner, Lesley University, USA
; ;
Chapter 4
;
Psychedelic.Trance.and.Multimedia.Neo-Rituals:.The.Modern.Shamanic.
Tools?....................................................................................................................87
; ;
Emília Simão, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Chapter 5
;
Psychedelic.Trance.on.the.Web:.Exploring.Digital.Parties.at.Second.Life........109
; ;
Emília Simão, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Armando Malheiro da Silva, University of Porto, Portugal
; ;
Chapter 6
;
Requirements.of.a.Digital.Platform.for.Psytrance.Parties..................................132
; ;
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
;
& Minho University, Portugal
;
Chapter 7
;
Psytrance.Influences.on.Touchless.Interactive.Experiences:.New.Roles.for.
Performers.and.Audience.within.the.Electronic.Music.Scenario.......................146
; ;
Paulo César Teles, University of Campinas, Brazil
; ;
Aidan Boyle, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
; ;
Chapter 8
;
Exploring.Psytrance.as.Technognosis:.A.Hypothesis.of.Participation...............170
; ;
Psyence Vedava, Independent Researcher, Greece
; ;
Chapter 9
;
The.Paradox.of.Self.in.the.Imagination.of.Goa.Trance:.The.Trancer................206
; ;
Sara Constança, Independent Researcher, Portugal
; ;
Chapter 10
;
The.Paradox.of.Self.in.the.Imagination.of.Goa.Trance:.The.Dance-Floor.........234
; ;
Sara Constança, Independent Researcher, Portugal
; ;
Emília Simão, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Chapter 11
;
Pushing.the.Boundaries:.Investigating.the.Musical.and.Social.Aesthetics.of.
Dark.Psytrance....................................................................................................260
; ;
Botond Vitos, Independent Researcher, Germany
; ;
Chapter 12
;
Arcadian.Electrickery:.Locating.“Englishness”.in.England’s.Psytrance.
Culture.and.Sonic.Aesthetic................................................................................278
; ;
Gemma Farrell, University of Sussex, UK
; ;
Chapter 13
;
Flying.Away:.Electronic.Dance.Music,.Dance.Culture,.Psytrance,.and.New.
Sounds.in.Portugal..............................................................................................307
; ;
Paula Guerra, University of Porto, Portugal
; ;
Compilation of References...............................................................................337
; ;
About the Contributors....................................................................................372
; ;
Index...................................................................................................................376
; ;
Detailed Table of Contents
Foreword.............................................................................................................xiii
; ;
Preface..................................................................................................................xv
; ;
Chapter 1
;
Biogenetic.Structural.Perspectives.on.Shamanism.and.Raves:.The.Origins.of.
Collective.Ritual.Dance..........................................................................................1
; ;
Michael James Winkelman, Arizona State University, USA
; ;
The.worldwide.development.of.raves.and.similar.collective.rituals.characterized.
by.all.night.communal.rituals.involving.dance,.drumming,.music,.and.often.the.
use.of.psychedelic.substances.can.be.understood.as.a.modern.manifestation.of.
the.same.biological.principles.underlying.shamanism..The.shamanic.ritual.was.a.
nighttime.ceremony.which.engaged.all.of.the.community.in.a.powerful.interaction.
with.the.spirit.world.as.the.shaman.beat.drums.or.rattled.while.singing,.chanting.
and.dancing..The.common.underlying.biogenetic.structures.of.shamanism.and.raves.
involve:.the.social.functions.of.ritual;.the.effects.of.dance.and.music.as.systems.for.
social.bonding.and.emotional.communication;.and.the.effects.on.consciousness.that.
produce.alterations.of.emotions,.identity.and.consciousness.and.personal.healing.
;
Chapter 2
;
The.Roots.of.Trance:.Reflections.of.Space.Rock,.Psychedelia,.Krautrock,.and.
Post.Punk.Live.in.the.1970s.and.1980s................................................................38
; ;
Peter Smith, University of Sunderland, UK
; ;
This.chapter.explores.the.roots.of.trance.by.taking.a.reflective.and.historical.view.of.
the.influences.of.1970s.and.1980s.music.on.the.development.of.trance..The.author.
reflects.on.concerts.which.he.personally.attended,.analysing.them.for.music,.lyrics,.style,.
performance,.and.concepts.which.formed.the.roots.of.trance..This.includes.performances.
from.the.following.genres:.space.rock,.psychedelia,.Krautrock,.and.post.punk..The.
chapter.discusses.performances.by.the.Grateful.Dead,.Pink.Floyd,.Arthur.Brown,.The.
Edgar.Broughton.Band,.Kraftwerk,.Joy.Division,.and.Public.Image.Limited..In.each.
case.those.elements.which.have.contributed.to.the.development.of.trance.are.highlighted.
;
Chapter 3
;
Transformational.Festivals:.A.New.Religious.Movement?..................................58
; ;
Andrew Johner, Lesley University, USA
; ;
With.the.growing.popularity.of.psychedelic.trance.worldwide,.as.well.as.a.general.
resurgence.of.electronic.music.in.the.United.States,.several.new.forms.of.music.
festivals.are.one.the.rise.in.North.America-.among.these.are.transformational.festivals..
Transformational.festivals.in.North.America.are.a.progeny.of.psychedelic.trance,.
Burning.Man,.and.full-moon.rave.culture..Transformational.festivals.incorporate.
spiritual.practices.such.as.yoga,.chanting,.meditation.and.ecstatic.dance.alongside.
their.primary.exhibits.of.musical.and.psychedelic.entertainment..The.festivals.
advertise.a.predominating.intention.of.providing.attendees.with.multiple.avenues.
of.self-development,.therapeutic.healing,.and.spiritual.transformation..The.purpose.
of.this.chapter.is.to.access.elements.of.belonging,.identity,.religiosity,.and.elitism.
among.transformational.culture.and.their.transformational.festival.events..This.
chapter.will.offer.comparison.to.religious.revivals,.cults,.new.religious.movements,.
millenarianism,.and.cultural.revitalization.movements.
;
Chapter 4
;
Psychedelic.Trance.and.Multimedia.Neo-Rituals:.The.Modern.Shamanic.
Tools?....................................................................................................................87
; ;
Emília Simão, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
This.chapter.examines.the.relevance.of.multimedia.technologies.in.Psychedelic.
Trance.gatherings,.exploring.its.technical,.sensory.and.spiritual.convergence..
Technology.devices.have.always.been.a.part.of.our.lives,.from.the.first.artefacts.of.
early.humanity.to.the.most.sophisticated.of.our.era,.where.technology.has.taken.
control.of.some.aspects.of.our.lives..In.the.late.twentieth.century,.a.new.stage.of.
history.characterized.by.the.transformation.of.our.material.culture.through.mechanisms.
of.a.new.technological.paradigm.started..We.live.in.communion.with.all.kinds.of.
technologies.that.complement.and.extend.us.in.most.of.our.existential.aspects,.not.
only.in.a.technical.way.but.also.a.personal,.emotional.and.even.spiritual.level..The.
electronic.dance.music.and.its.relevance.in.modern.cultures.can.be.a.reflexion.of.
this.reality,.where.new.technologies.and.multimedia.tools.have.awakened.neo-ritual.
practices.in.Psychedelic.Trance.gatherings,.evoking.tribal.experiences.with.shamanic.
foundations,.and.mediated.by.high-tech.guide.elements.
;
Chapter 5
;
Psychedelic.Trance.on.the.Web:.Exploring.Digital.Parties.at.Second.Life........109
; ;
Emília Simão, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
; ;
Armando Malheiro da Silva, University of Porto, Portugal
; ;
This.chapter.proposes.an.approach.about.Psychedelic.Trance.tribe.behaviours.
and.manifestations.in.digital.environments,.and.cyber.ritual.dynamics.beyond.
the.virtual.parties.in.Second.Life..Many.spatial.communities.are.simultaneously.
digital.communities,.and.both.became.complements.and.extensions.of.one.another..
Psychedelic.Trance.movements.and.manifestations.have.been.happening.through.
all.kinds.of.physical.spaces,.now.also.extended.to.digital.spaces..Psytrance.neo-
nomads.are.now.techno-nomads,.moving.to,.from,.and.through.the.web,.redefining.
themselves,.their.practices.and.their.gatherings..In.this.scenario,.Psychedelic.Trance.
branches.emerges.everywhere,.especially.in.social.networks.and.three-dimensional.
immersive.environments.like.Second.Life..This.digital.migration.is.not.only.making.
the.tribe.growing,.is.also.enhancing.boundaries.and.increasing.the.individual.and.
collective.consciousness.of.its.members..Nevertheless,.even.if.the.Trancers.became.
simultaneously.physical.and.virtual.natives,.the.digital.parties.do.not.seems.to.
replace.their.outside.experiences.
;
Chapter 6
;
Requirements.of.a.Digital.Platform.for.Psytrance.Parties..................................132
; ;
Sérgio Tenreiro de Magalhães, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal
;
& Minho University, Portugal
;
Digital.platforms.that.support.virtual.worlds.are.becoming.more.complex.and.there.
is.a.growing.fusion.between.real.life.and.digital.objects..Wireless.technologies,.
screens’.resolution.and.colours,.3D.technologies,.virtual.and.augmented.reality.
can.change.the.way.a.user.experiences.a.virtual.environment..This.chapter.explores.
input.and.output.technologies.for.computing.devices.and.discusses.the.technological.
developments.that.constitute.requirements.for.the.success.of.non-physical.trance.
parties.or,.as.some.would.prefer.to.call.them,.virtual.trance.parties.
;
Chapter 7
;
Psytrance.Influences.on.Touchless.Interactive.Experiences:.New.Roles.for.
Performers.and.Audience.within.the.Electronic.Music.Scenario.......................146
; ;
Paulo César Teles, University of Campinas, Brazil
; ;
Aidan Boyle, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
; ;
In.the.fields.of.new.media,.art,.and.technology,.we.live.and.evolve.together.with.
multimedia.interactivedigital.technology..This.symbiosis.has.made.it.possible.to.
develop.novel.works.that.dialogue.with.theexploratory.nature.of.the.human.being.
when.confronted.with.unfamiliar.technological.equipment..The.electronic.music.
scenario.brought.us.some.elements.that.inspired.and.provoked.us.in.this.quest..The.
Psytrance.style.in.particular.made.us.realize.that.once.a.minimal.simple.harmony.
was.supported.by.a.solid.rhythm,.the.audience.could.interact.and.control.many.of.the.
sound.clusters.available,.solely.with.their.body.movement..In.this.chapter.we.report.
experimental.results.and.analysis,.which.point.towards.an.approach.for.composing.
electronic.music.through.the.distinct.and.innovative.behaviour.of.the.participants,.
turning.them.into.real.performers,.as.well.as.transforming.the.role.of.the.DJ/VJ.by.
engaging.them.in.a.two-way.dialogue.with.their.audience.
;
Chapter 8
;
Exploring.Psytrance.as.Technognosis:.A.Hypothesis.of.Participation...............170
; ;
Psyence Vedava, Independent Researcher, Greece
; ;
This.chapter.explores.the.performative.process.occurring.in.the.dance-floor/
stage.of.a.psytrance.event.as.‘technognosis’,.a.concept.that.combines.media,.arts,.
performance.and.technology.with.the.notion.of.gnosis..Technognosis.is.proposed.
as.an.overarching.concept,.able.to.theorize.the.whole.transpersonal.range.of.the.
psytrance.experience,.including.its.spiritual.dimension,.enabled.by.the.induction.and.
facilitation.of.alterations.in.consciousness..The.psytrance.experience.is.analyzed.it.
terms.of.aesthetic,.visionary.and.mystical.experiences.understood.here.as.qualities.of.
gnosis..At.the.same.time,.this.chapter.contends.that.technognosis.affects.participation.
and.invites.its.multi-media.and.performative.expression,.triggering.fundamental.
changes.in.ways.of.human.thinking,.imagining.and.operating;.potentiating.the.
adoption.of.participation.as.the.next.paradigm.in.human.existence..In.parallel,.the.
chapter.proposes.a.post-modern.approach.in.researching.and.analyzing.the.psytrance.
phenomenon.as.a.whole,.combining.media.and.performance.studies.with.religious.
studies.methodological.tools.
;
Chapter 9
;
The.Paradox.of.Self.in.the.Imagination.of.Goa.Trance:.The.Trancer................206
; ;
Sara Constança, Independent Researcher, Portugal
; ;
This.chapter.deals.with.the.first.part.of.the.investigation.in.regards.to.the.experience.
of.self.in.the.Goa.Trance.dance-floor..The.author.analyzes.the.paradox.of.self.in.a.
phenomenological.scope.without.going.to.deep.into.philosophic.concepts.but.deep.
enough.to.give.a.sufficient.basis.to.understand.the.arguments.of.the.next.chapter.
with.same.title.and.different.subtitle..After.dealing.with.the.self,.a.notion.of.what.is.
that.we.call.real.is.then.put.forward.within.a.framework.from.the.Portuguese.poet.
Teixeira.de.Pascoaes..This.will.also.be.in.the.context.of.an.analyses.of.the.Pythagorean.
tetractys.in.order.to.understand.what.can.be.said.that.is.or.is.not.existence.in.a.
conceptual.stand.point..This.will.set.forward.the.necessary.basis.for.understanding.
what.is.happening.with.the.pure.trancer.in.the.Goa.Trance.dance-floor.
;