Dr. Anita Jóri
Exploring the Current Issues of Berlin’s Techno Culture
Seminar, English, 2 SWS, 2 ECTS
Fridays, 14-18 h, ca. bi-weekly, 8 dates: 25.10., 8.11., 22.11., 6.12., 20.12.2024, 17.1., 24.1., 14.2.2025, Hardenbergstr. 33, room 110
ATTENTION: 22.11.2024, excursion to "Archiv der Jugendkulturen", meeting 13:50 h at Schwiebusser Str., opposite of Nr. 129d

Berlin’s Techno culture holds an iconic position in the history and development of the global electronic dance music culture. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city’s abandoned spaces became hubs for (often illegal) events, solidifying Berlin as one of the capitals of Techno culture. However, the local club scene now faces significant challenges due to gentrification and property investments. Over the past decade, approximately 100 clubs have closed, and many others remain under constant threat.
The COVID-19 pandemic further impacted Berlin’s club culture, forcing it to adapt to online platforms and virtual clubbing experiences. When clubs reopened, they confronted the economic aftermath of years without income, as well as the ongoing economic crisis. Consequently, clubs had to resort to higher entrance fees and elevated prices at their bars.
Simultaneously, a new generation has emerged, influenced by TikTok videos that depict a distorted portrayal of the so-called “Techno culture”. The terms “rave” and “Techno/techno” have become buzzwords on social media, often misrepresenting Techno’s cultural origins in Black Music and marginalized communities. This current “Techno-hype” has accelerated the mainstreaming of the (sub)culture more than ever before.
Adding to these complex issues, Berlin Techno has been included in Germany’s UNESCO cultural heritage list. This decision carries significant implications for the aforementioned challenges. Will it act as a tipping point for the city’s Techno culture? How will it shape the direction of the so-called “underground” scene?
Drawing on research from cultural studies and popular music studies, this seminar offers a platform to discuss and analyze these issues. Through critical examination, we aim to unravel the possibilities and dangers presented by this phase.

Konkrete Leistungsanforderungen für den unbenoteten Schein // Fulfilment criteria for ungraded accreditation: : active participation and conducting own observation/field research in club context.

Anita Jóri’s research and publications focus on the discursive and terminological aspects of electronic (dance) music culture. She is one of the curators of CTM Festival’s Discourse programme and one of the editors of the academic journal Dancecult. She is also the author of the monograph The Discourse Community of Electronic Dance Music (transcript, 2022) and one of the editors of the books The New Age of Electronic Dance Music and Club Culture (Springer, 2020), Musik & Empowerment (Springer, 2020) Musik & Marken (Springer, 2022) and Living at Night in Times of Pandemic. Night Studies and Club Culture in France and Germany (transcript, 2024).