Dash Berlin
The deck captain
Worshipping
Our view of Toronto
Remix of A&B. You are the sun & the moon to meeee.
Ladies & Dash Berlin
Ozmozis Productions photos by Vince Nguyen
Hi, stupid and embarrassing photo. But trust me, there's more.
The Electronic Dance Music community in Toronto seems to be one of the largest in North America, and undoubtedly the biggest in Canada. The truth of the matter is that I really have not embraced it here as much as I thought I would even though I have such love for it. My reason for not being so involved is because I'm continuously debating about the idea of wanting to belong within an imagined community. I'm defining 'community' here as a construct where people are in constant negotiation of belonging which is based on shared beliefs and meanings between members; this is quite apparent at any concert. I often feel that I am left with the paradox of both belonging and non-belonging when I negotiate between my identities. I feel this way within many spheres of my life because of my vast and often juxtaposing range of interests (curiosities which are mine but can appear boring to anyone else).
For example, I sort of feel that when people like a certain type of music, they fall into a preconceived stereotype of what is often thought about the members of these communities. (See above pictures. Don't I look like I'm just another self-indulgent party girl?). I approach this EDM community like I do with almost every other thing in my life - I go into it with just the right amount of intensity. You can watch me dance to trance with such fiery passion, but then not see me the next weekend because I'm too busy reading a book and listening to Elliott Smith. I admit it, I am afraid of being defined in only one clear way. Perhaps because I hate stereotypes? Perhaps because I don't know how to define myself? But I do enjoy contradicting myself because I love loving so many things. I would rather be embraced by moments than let my 'self' underline what experiences I can have.
So on this boat party, when the melodic waves crashed into gravitating beats, I felt pretty frickin' awesome (to put it rather bluntly) to be temporarily part of this community. I felt free to be who I am or whoever I wanted to be. I'm not saying that this party girl image is the dominant me, the alpha me, the better half of me, or the worst of me. Rather, it is simply just one part of this multitude of "me's".
For example, I sort of feel that when people like a certain type of music, they fall into a preconceived stereotype of what is often thought about the members of these communities. (See above pictures. Don't I look like I'm just another self-indulgent party girl?). I approach this EDM community like I do with almost every other thing in my life - I go into it with just the right amount of intensity. You can watch me dance to trance with such fiery passion, but then not see me the next weekend because I'm too busy reading a book and listening to Elliott Smith. I admit it, I am afraid of being defined in only one clear way. Perhaps because I hate stereotypes? Perhaps because I don't know how to define myself? But I do enjoy contradicting myself because I love loving so many things. I would rather be embraced by moments than let my 'self' underline what experiences I can have.
So on this boat party, when the melodic waves crashed into gravitating beats, I felt pretty frickin' awesome (to put it rather bluntly) to be temporarily part of this community. I felt free to be who I am or whoever I wanted to be. I'm not saying that this party girl image is the dominant me, the alpha me, the better half of me, or the worst of me. Rather, it is simply just one part of this multitude of "me's".
Yours,
P. xo.
P.S. I'm rather uncomfortable putting up pictures of other people on my blog because I figure people might be uncomfortable seeing themselves on here. I needed these pictures for the point of this post. If you don't want a picture of you on here, let me know please and thank you.
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