the political shift to the right in wide parts of society is also threatening the idea of an independent club culture. In 2018 besides two other clubs in Tiblisi, Bassiani was raided under the pretext of drug controls and various guests got injured, some of them seriously. Zhao Dai in Beijing exists in the intervening State of Beijing only precarious and already had to shut down for several months due to allegedly fire protection issues. In Germany, the persistance of Fusion Festival is at risk – because police wants to enforce a station and patrols on the festival grounds to prevent and pursue infringements and (im)possible felonies.
The backgrounds of there attacks are rarely compliant with the pretexts unter which they have been administered. It is rather an aversion against the freedom-loving, hedonist and emacipatory club culture. Club clulture is a place that gathers people who cannot or don't want to live according to the prevailing standards of majority. Thereby, it is a place of communitybuilding for political activists and LGBTQI*s and in accorance to that under surveillance. Culb culture is political because it encourages community building, positions itself against the social backlash and does not care for individual profit. In the meantime it inspires numerous raversworldwide in their politcial actions and consciousness. Zhao Dai, Bassiani and Fusion Festival are good examples fot the threats that club cultrue is currently facing and the options to stand up to them.
+ Carmen Herold (Zhao Dai)
+ Levan Kiziria (Bassiani)
Abendkasse: tba