Neo-tribe Sociality in a Neoliberal World: A Case Study of Shambhala Music Festival

Authors

  • Adrienne Ratushniak St. Francis Xavier University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15273/jue.v7i2.8417

Abstract

This case study of the electronic dance music (EDM) festival, Shambhala, in British Columbia, examines contemporary sociality. Both popular perception and academic discussion suggest that contemporary, neoliberal society is individualizing. In contrast, Michel Maffesoli (1996) argues that sociality is continuing but in a different form – what he refers to as a contemporary form of “neo-tribes,” temporary and episodic emotional communities formed through collective interest that counteract the alienating effect of neoliberal society. This research explores those two theories, using the 2015 Shambhala Music Festival, a single location of sociality, as the case study. The results of a rapid ethnographic study conducted throughout the festival‘s duration in August 2015 indicate that most attendees enthusiastically confirm neo-tribalism, describing the festival as a powerful emotional “vibe” experienced collectively; sharing with and caring for each other; and a family-like “Shambhalove” among festival attendees; however, participant observation and close examination of the evidence also shows a few specific instances of neoliberal individualism. This paper explores how a community with strong neo-tribe characteristics can exist in a neoliberal capitalist context and with some attendees whose main reason for being at Shambhala is their own individual consumer gratification.

Vol 7, No 2 (2017)

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Vol. 7 No. 2 (2017)

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Articles

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