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‘It’s Taking Over’: A Culture of More on the Lebanese Psychedelic Trance Dancefloor
Get PDFThis thesis begins with a historical ethnography of the Lebanese Psytrance scene, tracing its development from its inception to the present day. The research draws on three types of ethnographic fieldwork: participant and non-participant observation, auto-ethnography, and the go-along method. The fieldwork spanned from June 24, 2023, to the end of April 2024.
The core argument suggests that participation in the music and communities of Psytrance culture can significantly alter individual and collective socialites. Through a heightened state of suggestibility induced by the sound phenomena of the music, access to alternative modes of perception, and a deliberate curvature of inclusive shared experience through communal bonding, members explore and become attuned to an expanded version of themselves and their environment, a para-social culture of more.
The exploration begins by situating the Lebanese Psytrance community within a broader cultural trend towards spiritual exploration beyond traditional religious paradigms. Here, spirituality emerges as a dynamic process enabling self-discovery and alternative modes of relationality with the world, influencing personal identities and social perceptions.
A critical examination of sound follows, highlighting its materiality and phenomenological impact on shaping social realities within the local Psytrance milieu. This section unpacks the symbiotic relationship between spirituality and sound, illustrating how these elements intertwine to create unique cultural expressions and individual experiences.
The thesis then addresses the perceived decline in the artistic quality of Psytrance music over time, particularly noting a shift towards noise-based tracks and faster BPMs. This evolution has sparked internal debates within the community regarding the preservation of traditional storytelling and spiritual elements versus adapting to contemporary tastes and socio-political landscapes.
Further exploration focuses on cultural shifts within the Lebanese Psytrance scene, particularly the trend towards darker, more aggressive musical styles. This departure signifies a rupture in cultural continuity and ritualized practices, reflecting broader societal movements towards hedonism and raw emotional expression amidst Lebanon's socio-political turmoil. It also examines how certain 'dark sound' aesthetics serve as outlets for artistic resistance and resilience.
The thesis then examines the spiritual quest inherent within the Psytrance scene, likening participation to a form of askēsis—a rigorous training through ritualistic engagement. Participants navigate chaotic environments akin to meditative practices, seeking personal growth amidst societal challenges and cultural transformations. Controversies surrounding specific Psytrance events underscore societal anxieties, moral panics, and legal challenges faced by the community, highlighting its resilience and adaptive strategies in navigating external pressures.
In the chapter on sensorial experiences, the study delves into the multifaceted sensory landscapes and embodied practices defining Psytrance culture. Psytrance raves are portrayed as immersive sensory experiences cultivating "sensational knowledge" and alternative modes of cognition. These experiences not only shape social interactions, aesthetic encounters, and personal reflections but also blur the boundaries between self and environment, celebrating sensory diversity as a pathway to spiritual exploration and collective euphoria.
Additionally, the thesis explores the practice of decorating the psychedelic body as more than mere aesthetic enhancement, serving as a profound means of externalizing and embodying the unique sensory and aesthetic order of this subculture. Moreover, dance is analyzed not merely as physical movement but as a profound way of being in the world, cultivating a shared phenomenological embodied understanding that defines cultural identity within the vibrant Psytrance culture.
An exploration of activities in Psytrance raves, including yoga sessions, martial arts workshops, guided meditations, and various forms of dance, underscores their role in enhancing the holistic experience of participants. Concepts like sport ecology and body ecology highlight how these activities contribute to physical well-being and awareness within natural settings, reinforcing the immersive nature of Psytrance events.
Psytrance culture in Lebanon is depicted not only as an activity but also as a mechanism for community-building that shapes social dynamics and identities. These raves serve as gatekeepers of cultural codes, establishing social boundaries and inclusion/exclusion dynamics without resorting to violence. Within the underground scene, concepts of authenticity and the dichotomy between underground and mainstream play pivotal roles in fostering community cohesion. This culture exhibits neo-tribal characteristics, drawing on prehistoric social forms to forge intimate bonds and alternative familial structures based on extended kinship networks, promoting a greater sense of belonging and camaraderie among its members based on more humane and natural relationalities.
Despite advocating liberal values, significant inequalities and power dynamics persist, with men typically occupying dominant organizational roles while women are often relegated to supportive tasks or objectified within the scene's dynamics. Furthermore, the music is embedded within a socialization framework based on moral education and an ethics of responsibility within the Psytrance community, guiding members through virtues of tolerance, acceptance, and unity. This para-culture offers a sanctuary from societal norms, promoting authenticity, selflessness, and personal growth through shared musical journeys and controlled chaos. Experienced ravers serve as role models, nurturing moral virtues through their actions and interactions; yet the decline in mature guidance coupled with an influx of younger participants has altered the scene's dynamics. The scene, as well, shaped identities and everyday practices through negotiated role-identities and emotional rewards that reinforce group membership.
The thesis also examines the micropolitics within the community—a network of power nodes and fluid relationships where ideological exchanges, material resources, and social capital shape dynamics of support, competition, and inclusion/exclusion among members. Lastly, in response to societal and legal stigmas surrounding Psytrance in Lebanon, community members have developed a strategy known as 'neo-nomadic politics.' This approach involves strategically navigating legal frameworks and societal norms. Participants adopt fluid tactics to evade scrutiny, embodying a resilient adaptation to the complex, unregulated yet regulated landscape of Lebanon.
By doing so, this study seeks to create space for the “untold, unheard, unseen, and heretofore unimagined possibilities” inherent in Psytrance culture, offering insight into its impact on socio-political dynamics within the larger context of traditional and state social configurations (Clair, 1998, p.186). My research transcends mere methodological documentation of my anthropological trip; it serves as a conduit for exploring the nexus of local history, politics, culture, and the essence of being within the Arab World. By preserving these narratives, it contributes to the longevity of collective memory, ensuring that significant moments in history are not only remembered but actively studied and understood
A Hierarchy of Suffering: Lebanon, Hegel, and Northern Expatriates Search for Recognition
No full textDespite more wealth and material extraction than ever before, modernity still consists of widespread poverty and suffering. The widespread continued inequality of today has led the world to suffer. This suffering is related to a proximity to possession of material, and conflicts predicated on a competition for proximity. This suffering, as with trauma in general, has withdrawn people further into notions of identity. These identities, in the positivist world of today, are taken to be stagnant and wholly representative. Trauma and suffering have come to define the identities of people around the world; in a rush to locate and organize identities, there is a drive to create a hierarchy of privilege and suffering. This hierarchy of suffering is a zero-sum game of stagnating identity and comparing traumas. Comparing traumas as a reflection of difference serves to further the I from the Other. This retreat further into the particular of identity is at the cost of a vindictive oscillation back onto difference. With this retreat, society comes to form smaller groups of identity progressively more alone in fear and paranoia.
The perpetual retreat of identity back into itself is representative of a perpetual mis-identity and negative mode of reciprocity that sustains it. George Hegel and his use of dialectics locate this reciprocity and attempt to trace a solution. However, it’s clear that his philosophy has not inspired the progress and solutions of the ‘universal history’ it envisioned. In the capitalist hegemony of today, dialectics and Hegel’s social ontology still have a lot to offer us; the question is how to apply them. Whether it be the emancipation of ‘universal history’, or a better mediated tomorrow, a dialectical conception of identity and difference can be used to enact a reflexive attitude of perception that is core to better understanding both historical experiences and its traumas. Using autoethnography, this paper uses narrative on time spent in Beirut, Lebanon–a place of both myriad identities and great inequality– as a vessel for exploring these themes
Exploring the Relationship Between Exchange Rates, Trade Balance, and Geopolitical Instability in Switzerland
Get PDFThis paper studies the complex relationship between geopolitical factors, foreign exchange rates and trade balances in Switzerland from this regard. Analyzing the status of Swiss franc as a haven, this study confirms that it has an established positive relationship with intensified geopolitical instability. Adjusting economic indicators effective exchange rates and real interest adjust, the research revealed that despite global insecurities, Switzerland remains resilient with steady economic growth balanced balance of payments for financial stability. The results not only fit into those debates on safe-haven currencies, global production networks but also the role of geopolitical events in influencing financial markets offering helpful information for policy makers and businesses as they continue to thrive in a highly interdependent world
The Rise and Fall of Mount Lebanon Villas: The Case Study of Dhour Abadiyeh
No full textThe thesis explores the historical development and long-term impacts of residential tourism on Dhour Abadiyeh, a village in Mount Lebanon. Since the 1950s, large swathes of the village’s agricultural land have been turned into high-end residential villas, many of which are now abandoned. The research traces the drivers and long-term effects of residential tourism and summer vacationing on the town, focusing on the development of villas and the role of urban planning policies in influencing the production.
The thesis identified four main historical periods in the history of the town, two of which correspond to important periods of booms for villa development. The first boom coincides with the pre-civil war period (1943-1975) and coincides with the influx of elites from Lebanon and the Arab Gulf transforming the village into an important regional hub in the summer, with reach to the entire region. This transformation shifted the economic basis of the village towards reliance on tourism. It also introduced new social dynamics, creating new relations between its long-term residents and the visitors. The second building boom coincides to the post-war period, the reconstruction phase from 1990 till 2000s. The last phase explored in the study extends to the current moment when many villas are either underused or fully abandoned and dilapidated, and the impacts of this condition on the town’s life and economy.
The research focused on the planning policies, lot subdivisions, zoning and road development strategies that supported and facilitated the transformation and development of villas. It shows that in the absence of long-term strategic planning, poor community involvement, and a developer-driven residential tourism sector, Dhour developed in a pattern of social and spatial exclusion that caused long-term environmental degradation, shift in land perception, generated social conflicts, and produced, uneven distribution of resources.
The study relied on the longitudinal spatial analysis approach to trace the historical developments of villas in Dhour Abadiyeh over eight decades. It employed the Geographic Information System (GIS) framework for collecting and analyzing the historical and digitized building permits issued between 1945 and 2022, georeferencing aerial photographs, interviewing stakeholders and investigating public policies. This method provides an in-depth comprehensive strategy to study the influence of planning policies, and socio-political and economic forces impacting spatial production and urban transformations in rural areas.
The thesis contributes valuable insights into the possible long-term negative consequences of residential tourism and summer vacationing, particularly in southern contexts with weak or market-driven regulatory contexts. The research findings highlight the necessity of strategic planning and policy interventions addressing the long-term impacts of residential tourism, ensuring their positive contribution to the local context of rural villages
Detection of Barely Visible Indentation Damage in Composite Sandwich Structures Using Nonlinear Guided-Wave Features
No full textComposite sandwich structures (CSSs) serve a multitude of applications in the transportation, construction, and aerospace fields. Their structural integrity is essential to prevent any catastrophic failures, especially in large massive structures. CSSs are prone to low-velocity impacts which may create barely visible indentation damage (BVID) that can lead to serious defects over time resulting from irregular distribution of loads.
The main purpose of this study is to develop a robust framework for the selection of an actuation method and the use of the nonlinearly-generated features from its interaction with BVID to accurately localize damage. The frequency content of ultrasound signals actuated and received by a network of piezoelectric transducers are scrutinized to study the nonlinear effects of different sizes of BVID on Lamb-wave propagation in CSSs. Different actuation approaches and nonlinear parameters are explored to find the optimal method of damage detection and localization. The proposed novel technique involves the use of cross-correlation factors computed by considering different frequency ranges corresponding to fundamental-actuated frequencies and nonlinearly-generated frequencies. An imaging technique using the computed-cross-correlation factors is applied to generate a heatmap to localize damage.
The novel technique provided accurate localization of about 45 mm from the actual location, while the resolution of the conventional linear technique is much lower reaching 80 mm for a 2-mm-indentation depth.
For future work, the developed technique can be automated to give accurate results without having to collect a lot of data, furthermore, machine learning models can be developed to assist in the feature extraction of non-linear behavior
Cytochrome P450: The Metabolic Pathways and the Genetic Regulation Involved in Shaping the Story of Diabetic Kidney Disease
No full textIntroduction: Cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases metabolize arachidonic acid (AA) into 20-HETE (20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid) and EETs (Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids). Our group has demonstrated the involvement of CYPs and their metabolites in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) by activating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Polymorphisms of CYP genes can alter the expression of these enzymes, influencing DKD prognosis. We hypothesize that alterations in 20-HETE and EET levels contribute to ROS elevation via an SGLT2/mTOR-dependent mechanism in diabetes. Additionally, we have assessed the genetic contribution in the AA-metabolizing CYPs associated with the progression of DKD. Methods: We enrolled healthy volunteers and patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with or without DKD. We measured 20-HETE and EET levels in urine by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. We also assessed CYP expression in kidney biopsies. SNPs for the CYP4A11, CYP4F8, and CYP2B6 genes were detected using TaqMan PCR assays on DNA extracted from blood samples. To study the preclinical significance, molecular and histological analyses were performed using a T2DM mouse model treated with the pharmacological inhibitors of 20-HETE (HET0016), sEH (AUDA), SGLT2 (Dapagliflozin), and mTOR (Rapamycin, JR-AB2-011 and PP242). In vitro validation studies were performed using human podocyte and proximal tubular epithelial cells. Results: Patients with T2DM had elevated 20-HETE levels compared healthy volunteers. This increase was associated with higher expression of CYP4A11 and CYP4F8 in kidney biopsies. EET levels were lower in T2DM patients, correlating with decreased CYP2B6 expression in kidney biopsies. We identified novel SNPs for CYP2B6 and CYP4A11 in patient groups, suggesting an increased risk with the mutant alleles for diabetes and DKD. Regulation of 20-HETE and EET levels were associated with renal injury mediated by the SGLT2/mTOR/NOX4 axis. This was confirmed in the T2DM mouse mode and validated in the human renal cells. Conclusion: This study provides a framework into novel CYP450 pathways involved in diabetes-induced renal injury. We also describe the potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers related to CYP associated pathways in the progression DKD
Lebanon is in search of a treasure that doesn't exist
Get PDFLebanon's persistent quest for a mythical treasure symbolizes a deep-seated belief in miraculous remedies for its enduring economic and political challenges. Originally centered on dreams of rebuilding Syria, this pursuit has now transitioned to banking on potential wealth from gas reserves and real estate. Despite the allure of such treasures, these endeavors often serve as diversions from essential reforms. The perpetuation of these myths highlights a tendency to rely on fanciful solutions instead of tackling fundamental issues like corruption, archaic economic structures, and the imperative for genuine governance reforms. In light of Lebanon's severe financial crisis, the focus needs to pivot from illusory fixes towards practical, comprehensive enhancements
Data Literacy for School Educators: Towards a Framework for Implementation in Private Schools in Lebanon
Get PDFData-based or data-driven decision-making in schools has been associated with improved quality of teaching and learning and with school improvement at different levels. Opportunities for data use in schools have become more prevalent with the multitude of digital tools available for recording and analyzing school data. The effectiveness of data use in education, however, depends on various factors. This review study provides a review of literature on data literacy for educators towards the adaptation of a framework that could be proposed for implementation in private schools in Lebanon. The study presents an extensive review of recent literature to explore: (a) what is the role of data literacy and use in schools and how can this relate to private schools in Lebanon; (b) what are the frameworks for data literacy and use adopted internationally and how can they be synthesized for private schools in Lebanon; (c) what are the factors enabling or disabling data use in schools for effective decision making; and (d) which professional development intervention models have been shown to be effective in building school educators’ data literacy capacity. Suggestions for adaptation to the local context and implementation are discussed with the proposal of a framework to guide private schools in Lebanon in developing educators’ data literacy, along with implications for practice and further research
Between Tales and Facts: The Long Saga of Gaza Marine
Get PDFGaza Marine, a gas field discovered offshore Gaza in 2000, holds significant potential for the Palestinian economy but has been mired in political and security challenges. Early hopes for commercialization through deals with Israel or Egypt fell through, and subsequent attempts to revive the project have faced similar obstacles. Recent agreements involving Egyptian companies brought renewed optimism, but the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023 has paused all development efforts. Social media claims linking the war to gas resource control are overstated and ignore the deeper roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Future development will require significant diplomatic efforts and internal Palestinian consensus.Discovered in 2000, the Gaza Marine gas field has encountered significant obstacles hindering its development, primarily stemming from political, legal, and security-related challenges. Initially heralded as a promising economic venture for Palestine, the project encountered hurdles such as protracted negotiations, fluctuating partnerships, with recent involvement from Egyptian firms. Despite incremental advancements in securing agreements and regulatory clearances, the eruption of conflict in Gaza in October 2023 disrupted progress once more. While there is speculation on social media linking gas resources to the ongoing conflict, this interpretation oversimplifies the intricate and longstanding Israeli-Palestinian tensions at play
Regenerative Tourism & Nature Conservation Towards an Integrated Approach
No full textThis white paper is an outcome of an international research project supported by Leading House MENA, an initiative by The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI). It compiles insights and recommendationsfrom an expert roundtable aimed at exploring the concept of regenerative tourism and its potential to rejuvenate nature, communities, and the dynamics between hosts and guests.Roundtable discussion organized on December 4th, 2023, At the American University of Beirut - Nature Conservation Center (AUB-NCC) A collaboration between Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) and AUB-NCC.Includes bibliographical references.Participants: Cezar Mahmoud, Founder of Cezar’s Projects for Sustainable Tourism ; Chadi Mohanna, Director of Rural Development and Natural Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture ; Fouad Itani, Avian Expert - Association for Bird Conservation in Lebanon ; Gilbert Moukheiber, Adventure Tourism Development Expert and Trainer ; Houssam Shaiban, Restoration Ecologist ; Joe Fakhry Co-founder of Cedarzing ; Joelle Sfeir, Co-founder and Co-owner of Tourleb ; Lara Samaha, Head of Department of Ecosystems at the Ministry of Environment ; Marianne Abou Jaoude, Founder and Managing Director at Le Passeport Culinaire / Culinary Tourism and Hospitality Consultant / Deputy General Manager at Mir Amin Palace Hotel ; Michel Massoud, Founder of Cedarzing ; Nour Azzi, Founder of Guesthouses Lebanon / Managing Partner at Le Passeport Culinaire ; Omar Abi Ali, Ecotourism Coordinator at Shouf Biosphere Reserve ; Pascal Abdallah, Responsible Tourism Expert and Consultant ; Tania Ballane, Ecotourism Manager at the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa ; Zeina Haddad, Assistant Professor - Arts and Archaeology Department - Lebanese University / Acting Head of Youth and Local Entities Department at the Ministry of Tourism.Moderators: Dr. Alessandro Inversini Associate Professor, EHL Hospitality Business School ; Dr. Salma Talhouk Professor, American University of Beirut - Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management ; Dr. Alain Daou Dean, Faculty of Business, American University of Beirut - Mediterraneo Director, American University of Beirut - Nature Conservation Center (AUB-NCC)This white paper is an outcome of an international research project supported by Leading House MENA, an initiative by The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI). It compiles insights and recommendations from an expert roundtable aimed at exploring the concept of regenerative tourism and its potential to rejuvenate nature, communities, and the dynamics between hosts and guests. The roundtable convened 15 national experts from the private and public sectors, along with civil society. Structured to mirror the meeting presentations and discussions, the paper details the sessions: Dr. Inversini opened with an introduction to regenerative hospitality; Dr. Talhouk discussed the interplay between tourism and nature’s regeneration; Dr. Daou focused on how tourism can revitalize communities, and Dr. Inversini concluded with a session on tourism and host-guest regeneration.Funded by Leading House MEN