Berlin’s nightlife scene has a special rhythm: the one given by the electronic music that plays in its techno clubs, and which makes the German capital an international magnet for fans of the genre. The halo has been created behind closed doors in legendary venues for followers such as Berghain, Tresor or KitKatClub, and in street demonstrations such as the Love Parade, recently recovered and renamed Rave The Planet.
Now, the German UNESCO committee, in agreement with the federal government and the länder (federated states), has inscribed the Berlin Technokultur on the national list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, in the category of “performing arts, customs social events, festivals and rituals”, and also seeks recognition on the universal list of world heritage sites.
According to the March 13 ruling, Berlin’s techno clubs embody “values ??such as diversity, respect and open-mindedness” and constitute “a vivid alternative to classical music listening practices.” The majority of activities recognized in these lists are traditional knowledge and customs.
At the entrance to Berghain, the legendary club installed in a former power plant, whose name is an acronym of the two neighborhoods that mark it (Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain), monumental queues of up to five or six hours form with no guarantee of entry. The merciless admission policy is in the hands of the doormen and the unwritten etiquette says that, to get your seat, you have to wear black, go in small groups, and not make a fuss in line, much less take selfies. Heute leider nicht (unfortunately not today) is the dreaded phrase of rejection at the door.
“Berlin is techno, you have to come here; and the Berghain in particular is a landmark, it’s a great place that so many people talk about, with this door that is so difficult to get through,” says Ben Bünder, a 24-year-old Rhineland-based student and electronic music enthusiast, who passes by a few days of vacation in Berlin and that he does not miss his appointment with the Berghain. “Techno is Berlin; “You would be amazed to enter a club where techno music wasn’t playing, it’s everywhere.”
Techno clubs contribute to Berlin’s cultural identity, and the city’s understanding of itself, and are firmly embedded in its political history. Electronic music – purely emerging as a phenomenon in Detroit (United States) – began to take hold in clubs in Germany in the mid-1980s, especially in Frankfurt and Berlin, which was still divided in two by the Cold War.
When the Wall fell in November 1989, industrial buildings, factories and warehouses in the former communist sector fell into disuse and began to host parties, first illegal and then fully legal. DJs, fans and labels swirled in the night with the excitement of the new times.
In October 1990, Germany was reunified and a glorious era began for the clubs. “Techno became the soundtrack of the spirit of optimism after reunification,” reasons the German UNESCO committee. The resulting freedom helped establish the techno and club scene so present in Berlin. “Sound and sound productions are closely linked to the city and developed their special character in the context of German reunification.”
“I grew up in East Berlin, I was 11 years old when the Wall fell; Suddenly, everything seemed possible,” recalls Berliner Anja Martinetz, 46, at the door of the Berghain. “That is why in the nineties, the media and techno artists found a great moment in Berlin; Techno was not originally from here but it caught on, and then I was already a girl who went out, and the world of clubs was also my time; I continue to like techno a lot.”
The Berlin Technokultur has no age, no sexual orientation, no nationality or skin color. Despite what it may seem, people of all kinds dance on its dance floors; Nobody watches what others do, and nobody cares what other people’s fun is like. Taking photos inside the clubs is strictly prohibited, which contributes to the aura of exclusivity and the feeling of freedom.
There is no time restriction for entertainment venues, another legacy of history: in 1949, in a dispute between authorities and venues over the curfew, West Berlin abolished closing time, and after reunification, East Berlin joined the system. . The clubs can basically open and close whenever they want.
In fact, Berlin’s Technokultur is not limited to the interior of the clubs, and has its external manifestation in the Rave the Planet parade, heir to the Love Parade of the nineties – this disappeared from the city in 2006 for administrative reasons. , which was celebrated in 2022 with thousands of participants, and this year it will be on August 17.
Its organizers consider it a political-cultural demonstration. “We demonstrate for peace, the protection and preservation of the culture of electronic music and the recognition of its cultural and social achievements,” says Rave the Planet, which in 2021 launched the campaign for Berlin techno to enter the list of UNESCO.
The Clubcommission Berlin, which brings together dozens of techno venues, large and small, exults with joy and trusts that, although the new status does not entail direct material benefits, it will facilitate subsidies and reduce opening and maintenance requirements, because Berlin has It has become a very expensive city, rents are rising and gentrification is lurking.
“The decision will help us ensure that club culture is recognized as a valuable sector worthy of protection and support; While operas, theaters and concert halls have always been recognized as part of culture, music clubs are fighting to be seen as a full part of culture,” says Lutz Leichsenring, member of the board of directors.
According to the Clubcommission, technotourism attracts more than 3 million visitors to Berlin each year, who spend around €1.4 billion, which is equivalent to around 8% of total annual tourist spending. But the sector suffered huge losses during the long closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is now fighting to recover.