Graduation Date
2001
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Lee H. Bowker
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Judith K. Little
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Donna Schafer
Keywords
Art
Subject Categories
Art
Abstract
The mass media identify raves as the exclusive setting for consuming ecstasy. Ecstasy is a variety of compounds mimicking the effects of MDMA. Since ecstasy is an illegal drug often consumed at raves, moral entrepreneurs have defined raves as a threat to children and public safety. Moral entrepreneurs have mobilized to prohibit raves using legislation. I hypothesize that claims-makers have constructed in textual mass media the moral panic about raves, which resulted in legislation that was approved by moral entrepreneurs to control raves. I employed two separate studies using quantitative and qualitative methodologies to test the moral panic theory. In the first study, the proliferation of exaggerated claims about ecstasy and raves were measured using a sample of international newspaper articles (n=128). The second study provided a forum for a self-selected sample of interviewees at the administrative level of raves to respond to legislation unanimously approved by their local city council.
Recommended Citation
Mitchell, Joel, "The Moral Panic About Raves: Newspaper Transmission and Legislation" (2001). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2431.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2431