cultural

Student

ANTH

March 22, 2026

Professor

I plan to write about a rave I attended on March 23rd in Atlanta. I went with a few friends

and saw a large group of people gathering to listen to music, dance, and engage with each other. I

chose this event because it was my first time ever attending one, and I’ve never done anything

like it other than maybe a concert or two. I was excited to see how people would dress and

connect with others around them. At the rave, I observed what people wore and listened to in

order to express their identities. A lot of people wore unique, expressive, and eclectic outfits,

which can reflect aspects such as gender, individuality, and group belonging. I think this relates

to the anthropological concept of identity and self-expression, where people’s behaviors and

styles can reflect broader cultural influences. There’s this trend, or a collective behavior I’ve seen

online and also saw in person, that’s often shared among individuals in a rave environment called

“PLUR” (peace, love, unity, respect). There is also a PLUR handshake where kandi bracelets are

shared or traded with others. This connects to themes of community, ritual, and social cohesion,

as a rave can function similarly to a ritual space where people can do and experience something

new or different from their everyday regular schedule. Additionally, I have observed how music

can be used as a form of communication. Instead of regular verbal language, people at raves

communicate through dance, body language, and even a mutual distaste or love toward a song or

music. This would be connected to language and nonverbal communication.