A Post-Cringe Theory of Psychedelic Spirituality in the Rave Scene
Psychedelic Intersections January 17, 2025 Michelle Lhooq
Cringe, the uncomfortable feeling of embarrassment or awkwardness, can be used to diagnose what has become stale in the rave scene and to argue for reclaiming a transcendent spirit. Although cringe may never be fully escaped, the strong emotions it signals act as a shock collar, alerting participants to behaviors and beliefs that were once radical but have since become outdated and cliché. The essay argues for instrumentalizing cringe to advance the psychedelic music scene beyond its current cringe and capitalist phase. Change cannot happen without cringe.