Rave in the Streets: Post-Subcultural Identity and Recognition of Techno Music in France Through the Techno Parade's Role and Evolution (1998 – 2023)

Originating in Detroit in the 1980s, techno music quickly spread globally and became a symbol of youth’s rave culture and club culture. Still, the heavy repression against techno music and its associated partying models, especially illegal activities, significantly stifled the scene and its authenticity. Parades became platforms for members of these subcultures to resist, express themselves and challenge repression in the public space. In France, the Techno Parade was launched in 1998 as a response to the repressive environment surrounding raves and free parties. Initially, it served as a form of protest and advocacy for the recognition of techno music, but gradually transformed into a major cultural event, drawing thousands of participants each year. The Techno Parade exemplifies the balance between maintaining the authentic, rebellious spirit of techno culture and achieving broader societal acceptance. By examining discourses and narratives surrounding the parade during its first year 1998 and the latest edition in 2023, this thesis shows how the Parade has crossed both terrains of cultural recognition and subversion. It reflects the broader acceptance and recognition of techno music within mainstream culture, demonstrating how techno music in France has grown from an underground movement into a recognised cultural phenomenon, focusing on the role of the yearly event of the Techno Parade in Paris. Supported by political figures such as Jack Lang, the event has helped to shift public opinion, presenting techno music cultures not as a deviant subculture but as an important part of French culture. Although the parade has influenced the perception and acceptance of techno music in French culture since its creation in 1998, recent editions have seen organisers use the event's public visibility for commercial purposes and to advocate for other causes related to the music industry or not. The parade has thus played a dual role in promoting techno music as a legitimate cultural expression, while trying to maintain the ethos of rave and club culture in the public space.