Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 July 2014
The media attention surrounding Raves in the last couple of years has brought the subject of nightlife and dancing to the foreground of American consciousness. Yet even as dancing and nightlife were enjoying renewed popularity, a national crackdown on clubs was taking place. Almost concurrently, and partly in response to the crackdown, a nostalgia movement arose among the new generation of clubbers for the Utopian ethos of the 1970s and 1980s “Underground-House” scene. These new “Househeads” yearned for the carefully cultivated constructs of the “family,” the “vibe,” and the distinctive styles of House music and dancing—all of which they were attempting to recreate in their parties in 2001. Since the September 11 terrorist attack and its devastating aftershocks, the longing for a safer, golden past has intensified. As eloquently demonstrated by the tremendous popularity during the Depression of escapist movies, in hard times people seek good times and the reassurance of nonviolent congregations.