Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy
by Barbara Ehrenreich
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
This book is not in any lists. Go add it to a list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 155)
bookshelves:
2007,
academic,
non-fiction
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who likes to really live.
I have a deep, deep appreciation for the combination of music and dance - it's led me to impromptu dance parties, raves, drum circles, and hippie music festivals among other events. There's nothing like a beat to make you move, and nothing like losing yourself in a large group to make you feel totally and truly human. This book is about that: large-scale celebrations of music, dance, and general carnival. The author has some really interesting ideas - from the idea of collective joy as an adapta...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
I heard Bill Moyers talking with Barbara Ehrenreich on his weekly podcast. She is a journalist who writes in a conversational style and never pretends to be an ultra-expert. In this book she discusses collective joy - using words like ecstasy and carnival throughout history. Uses it to get into really interesting discussion about European imperialism and its interpretation of "primitive" celebrations, class issues with collective celebration, the difference between the ecstacy of Nazi ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
bookshelves:
history-general
3.5 stars. As the author admits, this is a "European" history of collective joy, which I think she should clarify in the title since it gives an impression that any 'history' should automatically mean European experiences.
I enjoyed the long-duree scope of her history, and learned new things about European religions and revolution. I was interested in her chapter on Fascism but it wasn't very informative. Since my knowledge on Europe is limited, I cannot tell if her analysis of the ...more
I enjoyed the long-duree scope of her history, and learned new things about European religions and revolution. I was interested in her chapter on Fascism but it wasn't very informative. Since my knowledge on Europe is limited, I cannot tell if her analysis of the ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
bookshelves:
gender-studies,
journalism
recommends it for: people who like to dance, are bummed-out, or like to party
Read in February, 2008
recommended to Josh by:
Theresarecommends it for: people who like to dance, are bummed-out, or like to party
In one of the most unique books I've read in a long time, Ehrenreich departs from her usually focused gender-analysis to engage in a study of collective joy throughout human history. Clearly, today's society offers few opportunities akin to the participatory festivals of the pre-modern world and non-industrial societies, and how this happened is carefully traced by Ehrenreich.
This book is both enlivening, because of the ebullient topic and events described, but equally depressing, because it...more
This book is both enlivening, because of the ebullient topic and events described, but equally depressing, because it...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
Barbara Ehrenreich, author of the bestseller "Nickel and Dimed", has written another outstanding book! This one explores the role of dancing through the ages as an expression of community, and looks at the ebb and flow of various forms of dance and such other group experiences as festivals, religious practices, and rock concerts, their rise and fall through the ages, and what we have lost as a society as entertainment has become more a matter of being an spectator than a participant. ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
After reading Nickel and Dimed I decided to pick up Ehrenrich's current work from the library shelf. Wonderfully enough it is an investigation of why dancing evolved as an important part of human existence, it's historical role in religions, ecstatic ritual, and how the militarization and industrialization of Western culture suppress our natural desire to express and share joy in a group setting. The historical research is extensive and the book can be "dry". The main reason I have not...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
bookshelves:
to-read
I can't wait to read this book! I am strangely fascinated by the idea of collective joy (and the need for, and power, of shared experience, generally) and how that plays into art, religion, war, etc. I think that this is a particularly important concept to study for artists (and wannabes) as I believe the most successful artists (in all media) are those who can tap into the collective joy (or desire for it) of the audience members.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
burners
Interesting collection of historical facts and a few shining moments of analysis and perspective.
Didn't feel like there was enough analysis towards the initial introduction of the conflict between so-called "savage" traditions currently engaging in ecstatic ritual and how Western civilization came to demonize it...Also fails to mention current attempts to rediscover these types of gatherings in all but the most cursory way.
Didn't feel like there was enough analysis towards the initial introduction of the conflict between so-called "savage" traditions currently engaging in ecstatic ritual and how Western civilization came to demonize it...Also fails to mention current attempts to rediscover these types of gatherings in all but the most cursory way.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
I had to stop reading this book for two reasons. One, it was depressing the hell out of me--less a story of collective joy and more one on the crushing of collective joy throughout the ages by religious extremism, bigotry, racism or just plain stupidity. Two, it was due, and I couldn't bring myself to renew it. It's possible it was going to get alot better..
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2007
I really enjoyed this book. Like most other non-fiction i read ti in conjunction with other books which came my way, and it gave me a unique perspective to look at like through. i reccomend this to anyone interesting in collective, celebration, ritual, etc.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
bookshelves:
currently-reading
Still currently reading. I find non-fiction a lot longet to get through. Interesting though. I'm taking a break with fiction so the non-fiction doesn't seem so much like work...
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
bookshelves:
the-great-never-to-be-finished
Read in November, 2007
This interested me, but it had too many long passages filled with scholarly detail. It did not keep my attention. But I remain thoroughly in favor of ecstaty and dance.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
bookshelves:
feminist,
history
Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
co-opers and stinkin hippies
The first few chapters were pretty interesting. Definitely want to have a Dionysus party. Definitely.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
We have shut down our ability to experience collective joy, and need to revive it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
bookshelves:
begun-but-not-done,
to-read
Read in July, 2007
Unfinished. Someday I'd like to get back to this one, but I probably won't.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment


















