Publisher Description
From bestselling social commentator and cultural historian Barbara Ehrenreich comes this fascinating exploration of one of humanity’s oldest traditions: the celebration of communal joy, historically expressed in ecstatic revels of feasting, costuming, and dancing. Ehrenreich uncovers the origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture, showing that such mass festivities have been indigenous to the West since the ancient Greeks. Though suppressed by elites who fear the undermining of social hierarchies, outbreaks of group revelry still persist, Ehrenreich shows, pointing to the 1960s rock-and-roll rebellion and the more recent “carnivalization” of sports.
Original, exhilarating, and deeply optimistic, Dancing in the Streets shows that we are innately social beings, impelled to share our joy and thereby envision a peaceable future.
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“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 propaganda events and other large gatherings, and the current ecstasy found at rock concerts and sporting events. AShe uses references to support all of her points, and freely offers up when she is not able to scientifically support her ideas but feels that they are right. It is a nice style to read, not overbearing, but well thought out and entertaining.”
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Elliot (4 out of 5 stars)
