New book explores raving as a radical queer and trans practice in late capitalism

A new book dives into New York’s queer and trans rave scene during late-stage capitalism.

Raving, by New York-based Australian author and scholar McKenzie Wark, asks,”What is an art of life for what feels like the end of a world?” For Wark, also known for authoring A Hacker Manifesto and Gamer Theory, the answer is participating in New York City’s underground queer and trans rave scene. As publisher Duke University Press describes,”Wark invokes a trans practice of raving as a timely aesthetic for dancing in the ruins of this collapsing capital.”

Wark is Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at The New School in New York City. Her work focuses on new media, media theory and critical theory. She curates and hosts the”Writing On Raving” series at Nowadays and e-flux. Often published by Verso, her recent book Philosophy For Spiders is out now on Duke University Press. 

Raving, part of a new series where writers can muse on their hobbies, is expected out in March 2023. More information and pre-order are available via Spoonbill Books.

For more reading on raving and electronic music, revisit this list of newly published books. A recent photobook titled Location TBA documents the”temporary utopias” of Prague’s rave scene; another celebrates the queer clubbing scene of ’90s northern England. 

Photo credit: Z Walsh Photography