Why you should stop glamourising rave history

Nostalgia is particularly present in rave culture. The 80s and 90s are often lauded by those who were there (and some who weren’t), and social media is awash with old school clips. Each clip will trigger a slew of comments bemoaning how things aren’t as good as they used to be.

While it’s true that much has changed, raves are still the epicentre for unforgettable moments and safe spaces for people to express themselves freely. Here’s why you should stop glamourising rave history…

IT WASN’T ALWAYS AMAZING
For all the breakthrough moments, unity and euphoria, there were also plenty of difficulties in days gone by. Gangsters infiltrating the culture, unsafe venues, police raids, rubbish music, poor sound, and lots of other issues that plagued the scene disappear when we look through rose-tinted glasses.

SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T THE WHOLE STORY
Clips of crowds with their phones out like zombies, or endless drop videos, are not an accurate depiction of what’s actually going on in the raves. Comparison to the past is fruitless when using short social media clips as evidence.

CHANNEL THE NEGATIVE INTO POSITIVE
Transforming the negativity into positivity can also be helpful. Instead of bemoaning the loss of days gone by, dig into the current scene a little. There’s still plenty of music and parties that cultivate a positive atmosphere and embody the roots of the culture.

OLDER GENERATIONS ALWAYS BEMOAN CHANGE
Older heads are always nitpicking when it comes to shifts in culture. Our grandparents had similar complaints and no doubt their grandparents did, too; from rock ’n’ roll to punk, to repetitive beats. The world is constantly changing, so accepting that we live in a different world, despite its faults, can help to alleviate the stress of change.

RAVES ARE STILL ROOTED IN FREEDOM
Even in mainstream events, people are there to enjoy themselves and let their hair down. This may be in a different way to how it was 20 or 30 years ago, but the essence is still there: To come together and enjoy good music in a liberating space.