The Club Culture Model — Part Two
In the previous post, we looked into the elements that make up a club culture. The scene, space, and programming are vital parts that create dynamics of community and socialization. Today we’ll look at the dimensions of the multilayered phenomenon of club culture, its economic, social, and aesthetic importance for society.
To evaluate the quality of a specific club culture objectively, the complexity of club culture with all its dimension needs to be taken into account:
Economic dimension
“Attractive residential areas generally have good infrastructural connections and a high density of clubs.” (Club Commission Berlin e.V., 2019)
Club culture offers a space for creative thinking, which can not flourish if there is constant pressure for profit. Even though the event market volume is relatively small, other sectors can have major benefits from club culture. Especially creative minds are drawn to cities whose attractiveness is increased by club culture, benefitting tourism, retail, and transport.
Social dimension
Turning away from social pressure and norms, people of certain club cultures enter a safe space where expression and experimentation are embraced. At the intersection of private and public, many artists use the informal setting to try new things without conventions. Cameras are covered with stickers in the majority of clubs, to allow the audience to fully immerse in the experience, as well as giving them the opportunity to build their identity with which they might not be comfortable with acting out in public. This can be due to less liberal rights, however, homophobia, racism, and transphobia are also a problem in western countries to this day.
“Ideally, clubs are spaces where members of marginalized groups can move freely.” (Club Commission Berlin e.V., 2019)
However, this can not always be guaranteed, as younger generations and newcomers are entering the scene. With a “mentorship” principle, bouncers and fellow visitors spread important information, values of the scene, or support in other ways.
Clubs also serve as an escape to the daily oversaturated world, which is determined by technology and fast pace.
Aesthetic dimension
Each club culture can have its own music genre it’s accompanied by. The music plays a vital role in the composition of the club culture’s members and their discourse. Other aesthetic dimensions are the fields of architecture, visual arts, performance, and fashion. Especially areas of fashion have great importance in the expression of personalities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
Collaboration
“Doing something together”, so the collaboration and learning process of all participating stakeholders, their interests, and resources is what builds a unique club culture as a whole. All mentioned dimensions are influenced by collaboration and impact how the club and its culture is perceived.
Nostalgia
