- Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy
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Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy Author(s) Barbara Ehrenreich Country United States Language English Subject(s) Social history Publisher Metropolitan Books Publication date January 9, 2007 Media type Hardcover Pages 336 ISBN 9780805057232 OCLC Number 70718693 Dewey Decimal 394.26 22 LC Classification GT3940 .E47 2007 
Author Barbara Ehrenreich
Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy is a book authored by Barbara Ehrenreich.
The author coins the term "collective joy" to describe group events which involve music, synchronized movement, costumes, and a feeling of loss of self. There is no precise word in English to describe the phenomenon.
The book describes cycles of creation and suppression of collective joy events. The events generally arise spontaneously and are regarded as dangerous (see Collective hysteria, Riot). The powerful elements of society gradually convert the participants into spectators. This conversion drains the events of their power, and the cycle begins anew. The author describes Western Society as particularly lacking in such events and describes current and recent examples of Collective Joy events.
Contents
Well-known examples of Collective Joy
Historical
Current
- Burning Man: Possibly the best modern example of collective joy, this event erases social boundaries, encourages participation as a near-religious experience, and has no basis in a historical or religious festival.
- Rock concerts and raves: The most familiar example of collective joy to most Americans. The term especially applies to Grateful Dead concerts.
- Love Parade: costumed dancers and electronic music festival held in many cities around the world.
Collective Joy in transition
- Sports fans: The author contends that group movement like "the wave" and costuming (body paint, team colors) are an attempt to wrest the spectator nature of professional sports back into the realm of collective joy by making fans active participants in the team events.
- Halloween: In the past three decades, Halloween has transitioned from a children's holiday to an adult holiday, including street fairs in major cities such as New York's Village Halloween Parade and San Francisco's Castro District.
Other Collective Joy festivals
Collective Joy festivals can be found in many localities, though seldom known as such.
- California: Bay Area: Bay To Breakers footrace: costumed runners/walkers, dozens of bands, house parties along the race route, followed by a music concert at the end of the route.
- California: Bay Area: Lindy In the Park (weekly event). Originally part of the Swing Revival, this event began in 1996 and continues as a free venue for swing dancing in Golden Gate Park.
See also
External links
- Barbara Ehrenreich's official website
- Reviews on Amazon.com
- Podcast: Commonwealth Club Discussion with Barbara Ehrenreich
Categories: 2007 books | Group processes | Books about social psychology
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