This picture was taken last semester at the East Campus Library. During finals week, JMU decided to have an ‘ECL Rave’ to relieve the stress from non-stop studying. Three thousand students arrived at the library at a designated time with music, glow sticks, and a stress free attitude. This rave lasted about 30 minutes. Thirty minutes where students danced, crowd surfed, and even jumped from the second story of the library to the first, with no punishment. This allowed many people to forget about the pressure and anxiety of finals and just have a good time. Since this building was designed as a library, a place for academic purposes, there definitely is a contrast between its intended use and its actual use here at the rave. JMU students got this library rave idea from the University of North Carolina with the intent of getting a higher number of students to attend and pack the library than they did. After this rave, it returned to a peaceful library and has not been used for a rave since, even though there have been talks on trying to get up to 4,000 people to attend this semester during finals week. I will definitely always remember this rave at JMU because it relieved stress and anxiety during finals week. Also, many of my friends from other schools have seen the numerous videos on YouTube about the ECL rave, so it would be hard to forget.
I really like this picture. My only regret from fall semester was not attending this event. I heard whispers from friends and classmates that a "Rave" was taking place in East Campus Library. I told myself it probably wasn't going to happen "these people are all talk, no one is going to show up". But sure enough it did. After I saw the Youtube videos and talked to spectators/participants I was very upset I myself did not participate in the festivities. It looked like a good time I wish I was there to witness the moment of the "Rave". -Garet Dunivin 04/21
ReplyDeleteIm not sure what to think about this picture. I feel like because we were not the originators of the "Library Rave," that it kind of puts a damper on things. The library is obviously not a place for this, however, outlandish things do happen. Im not sure if more people have actually gone to ECL because of the rave, but in now way do i think it was a bad thing. Great picture.
ReplyDelete-Daniel Eisenberg
Chris Page, Dr. H.
ReplyDeleteI think this picture does a great job showing what occurred on the night of the rave. A large group of students gathered on the first and second floor of the East Campus Library to take a break of studying, and participate in the rave. This is definitely a different way to use the library than the architects intended. The building was built to promote academics such as studying, group projects, reading, and conducting research. I think this picture shows an attempt of students using the art of the contact zone to make a statement, but I do not think Mary Louise Pratt would consider this successful usage. In order for this to fit the definition of the art of the contact zone, students would have to conform to the structural intention of the library. By disrespecting the library and those that were trying to study, the students just created problems for the school. The library had to close down afterwards, and received a fine for not conforming to fire codes. More recently, JMU students yet again proved their lack of respect for their surroundings in the events of the block party. If students want to voice their disapproval for the current system, they need to start doing it in ways that actually conform to the standards of acceptable behavior. I really liked this idea for a picture and I think it can definitely spark debate as to its meaning.