Moshing

Annabel Bisset s42658737

It was just this year that I participated in my first act of Moshing. Now it was while I was in the depths of the Mosh pit being stood on, elbowed, lifted off my feet and just generally having a epic time I started to think What is it with Moshing? Who are these Moshers?. It was then that I decided to do some research on Moshing.

Moshing is a practice traditionally done at concerts and festivals such as:

Moshing is the way of festivals and Looks pretty fun too when you see it in adverts like this:
(Youtube, 2011)

Definitions of Moshing
There is no formal definition of Moshing but there are a number of well recognised definitions on the internet which are: 1. Dance to rock music in a violent manner involving jumping up and down and deliberately colliding with other dancers (Wikipedia, 2011)

Definitions of Moshing
2. Dangerous genre of dancing related to heavy metal/rock music. Usually done in crowded areas by pushing, shoving and jumping. (Urban Dictionary, 2011)

Definitions of Moshion
3. The ultimate way to show your love for your loud, pounding music taste. (Urban
Dictionary, 2005)

The Reality
The reality of Moshing is that it is a very violent form of music appreciation. There are multiple specific techniques in the Mosh Pit such as: 1. Crowd Surfing 2. The Circle Pit 3. The Wall of Death 4. The Break Down

Warning
Next few videos contain swearing. If uncomfortable please turn off volume.

Crowed Surfing
When a person is lifted up by the crowd and travels over head with the help of Moshers.

(Youtube, 2010)

The Circle Pit

The crowd is encouraged to run fast in a circle, whilst Mosh dancing. People are at random pulled in and must start running or risk being run over.

(Youtube, 2007)

Wall of Death
When the crowd splits and runs fast at each other when the singer of the band indicates or during the bridge of a song.

(Youtube, 2009)

The Breakdown
A key part of the song where the crowd just goes insane.

Injuries are a common occurrence in Mosh pits. Crowd Management estimates that over 10 000 people have received injuries being in or around Mosh pits within the last decade.

Etiquette
Amongst all this violence there is, surprisingly, an unspoken code of etiquette to be followed. This code is as follows(Adragna): 1. You must a like the band playing 2. Do not participate in extreme dancing while in Mosh pit 3. Help out fellow Mosher (If they have fallen down help them back up) 4. Do not start deliberate

Mosh Fatalities
Despite the unsaid rules of Moshing fatalities have occurred. In 2001 at Sydneys Big Day Out festival Jessica Michalik died due to Hypoxic Encephalopathy a result of being crushed in a Mosh pit(Wei, 2002). This is not an isolated incident. Its been recorded that nine people have died due to Mosh pits between 1994 and 2006(Friedman, 2008).

Picture references
It was Jessicas death that forced crowed safety to increase the security for the benefits of the crowed. For example Big Day Out implemented a primary barrier system and upped their focus on rescue efforts. So now every one, myself included, can be a happy and (relatively) safe Mosher.

Works Cited
Adragna, R. (n.d.). Richard Adragna. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/how_4495883_practice-mosh-pit-etiquette.html Friedman, E. (2008, May 7). Mosh Pit or Death Pit? Retrieved October 7, 2011, from abc News: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4804513&page=1 Urban Dictionary. (2005). Mosh pit. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Urban Dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moshing Urban Dictionary. (2004). Moshing. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Urban Dictionary: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moshing Wei, I. (2002). Findings and Recommendations by the Coronial Inquest . Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Crowsafe: http://www.crowdsafe.com/BDOInquestreportWeirFINAL120802.pdf Wikipedia. (2011). Moshing. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Google: http://www.google.com.au/search?rlz=1C1ASUT_enAU371AU371&gcx=c&sourceid=chro me&ie=UTF-8&q=define%3A+moshing Youtube. (2007). KILLSWITCH ENGAGE- huge pit. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhATK2fKMg Youtube. (2011). Parklife 2011 National Tour, The hottest line up this year! Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_5zCtDfc8A Youtube. (2010, May 16). Rockfest 2010 Crowd Surfing. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxTGY5GBsQ8 Youtube. (2009). wall of death - wacken metalcore. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4qxin7p6I

Picture References
Empire of Perth. (2011). Sterosonic 2011 Line up - Is Out. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Empire of Perth: http://www.empireofperth.com/news/stereosonic-2011-line-up-is-out/ MTV. (2011, January 10). Soundwave 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from MTV: http://www.mtv.com.au/music/artists/soundwave-2011/ Nova. (2010). Steve Angello Cancels Creamfields ans Tours. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from NovaFm: http://www.novafm.com.au/article_steve-angello-cancels-creamfields-andtours_100158 Pagesdigital. (2009). Splendour (Already!) Sold Out. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Pagesdigital: http://www.pagesdigital.com/splendour-already-sold-out/ Parklife. (2011). Gallery. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Parklife: http://www.parklife.com.au/gallery Stoney Roads. (2010). St Jerome's Laneway Festival Lineup 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Stoney Roads: http://www.stoneyroads.com/general/1346/ST-JEROME-SLANEWAY-FESTIVAL-LINEUP-2011 Tonedeaf. (2011, Feburary 2). GROOVIN THE MOO 2011 LINEUP ANNOUNCED. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Tonedeaf: http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/news/featured/61469/groovin-the-moo-2011-lineupannounced.htm Tumblr. (2011). Mosh Pit. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/mosh+pit Tumblr. (2011). Moshing. Retrieved October 6, 2011, from Tumblr: