Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy Paperback – December 26, 2007

What is it about the human psyche that almost demands that one take off the social mask, shed inhibition, and engage in behavior requiring sizable kinetic energy, behavior of which is sometimes totally beyond the pale of acceptable standards of conduct? Is this behavior an intrinsic human need, or maladjustment that requires tuning or even rescuing by those cultures that do not stoop to the writhing and bodily contortions of the primitive, backward cultures that do? Is stillness, is the sterile boardroom composure that appears settled and refined, an acid test for rationality? Can one indeed be rational and still indulge periodically in the drunken-Mount-of-Ephesus-like ecstasy of the ancient Greeks? Is dance a sign of social decadence or proof of social health, and if the former why do so many people throughout history risk reprisal by authorities by joining their friends, neighbors, and strangers to "dance in the streets?"This book provides an excellent context to begin to answer these questions. Although the book is short, and frequently provides only anecdotal evidence for its assertions, both its statements and conclusions are plausible, and the author exhibits an intellectual honesty that is becoming rare in today's intellectual circles. She is very aware, and admits so throughout the book, that much more evidence is needed to conclude some of the claims that are made between its pages. It is a book that puts human movement on a pedestal, as an object or worship and as an activity that respects tradition as well as rebels against it. When one reaches its final pages, one becomes more convinced that dance, that is, dance with no inhibitions or restraints, or "dancing in the streets", is part of being human, a necessity like air, food, and water. A culture that has it is a vibrant and confident one. A culture where it is absent is a dysfunctional one.But as the author details in the book, many attempts are made to suppress the out-of-equilibrium ethos of dance, sometimes by persuasion or intimidation, but most often by force. And most of the world's major religions have been all too happy to assist with this. They demand stillness in their subjects: movements resembling even in the slightest the ignorant savages of tribal cultures are an anathema. One must not be too elemental-to close to the jungle, if one is to have a higher, organized, rational culture. But even the most zealous of efforts fails to rid the world of the pestilence of dance. It reappears, as the author shows, in the sports stadiums throughout the civilized world, and in the high fidelity, high-decibel, trance-inducing rock concerts of the same.The author ends the book lamenting the state of the planet and hoping for a revival of the translation of potential to kinetic energy that is the street dance. Her concerns are to be noted but there is really no cause for worry. There is plenty of energy, plenty of activity, plenty of innovation, plenty of action in this ruckus of scientific and technological advancement, in this incredible outpouring of creativity that is stirring up the conceptual dust. In this carnival called the twenty-first century.

I came across this title in an Audible search and thought – that sounds like a really fun book to listen to, and maybe I’ll get some ideas about “joy activities.” Well, it turned out to be kind of the opposite. It is a scholarly work that is mostly about how the church and upper classes have systematically worked to stamp out ecstatic celebrations throughout history. However it solved a much larger problem in my life.I tend to get depressed, and in fact recently started a book and support group called Sad Is Okay, devoted to both acceptance of melancholia and overcoming depression. This book gave such an important clue as to why so many in our society are depressed. Ehrenreich documents how the “melancholia trend” that began in the late 17th century arose at the same time that the church started finally succeeding in stamping out danced religious practices. Such an important and fundamental insight as to the roots of depression!It’s also funny because I do a lot of folk dancing and rowing, both activities in which groups of people move in unison with each other, and I always find those activities to be joyful and satisfying.In fact numerous studies have shown that dancing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent dementia. So my latest thought is that maybe the worldwide epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease is due to the death of ritual dancing!In my own personal quest to end depression and loneliness, I am going to keep in mind the importance of ecstatic group rituals, and look for opportunities to promote them. Thank you, Barbara Ehrenreich, for such an original and illuminating book!

It is a little dated, and at some points Ehrenreich goes beyond what her evidence demonstrates and speculates about causes and at those points - points of specialist knowledge - the text suffers.

We know without being told that good food, good music and permission to dance gives us joy. Sometimes in our lives we have experienced personal ecstasy. A few of us have participated in group events that have briefly given us something more. Something beyond the personal ecstasy of sex, drugs, or the satisfactions of a momentary success. It felt like joy. But it was created because we were in a group. It seemed to be created spontaneously from the interactions of that group: A drumming circle, a rhythm in the back of a truck that just started up between the two or three people that were waiting out the lightning and a rainstorm. We were surprised. A kind of thrill ran through our nervous systems but we didn't really know why. Ms. Ehrenreich explains all in this book. That feeling is connected to every human being since the first nearly-naked tribe sat shivering around a campfire and for a bulwark against the fears of the night started to dance to a rhythm made by one person stamping their foot upon the dirt.What was created in that moment was the very same feeling as we, alive now, recreated in the back of that truck.This book is an excellent chronicle of how we had it, how we lost it for the sake of religion or civilization, and how we got it back, sometimes. She tells us that no matter how repressed it is it always sneaks out. Like in a storm in the back of a truck. Her conclusion suggests that we should explore ways to permit groups of people to achieve in everyday life that common group ecstasy. It may well be a palliative to ever spreading diseases and other more global forms of self-destruction.

Illuminating read especially in a generation plagued by rigid individualism, encouraging the practicality and meaning of a community in celebration. Highly recommended for everybody in search for answers why contemporary man is often either bored or anxious ans depressed.

A good read

Read this book and you will find out. We, as a civilization, made a mistake and its not too late to fix it.Everyone should read this book.

Great.

Barbara Ehrenreich writes well, and provides highly relevant and interesting information. Would recommend.