It’s 1989 and rave culture is at its peak in Britain. Illegal raves are being held around the country in abandoned warehouses and other remote locations. A cat-and-mouse game develops between the organizers and the police: once a rave is underway, there’s no way for the police to stop it.
This interactive experience by VR pioneer Darren Emerson takes you out into the rave scene on a typical night, accompanied by the sound of old-school acid house. Grab a flyer and go with your friends in search of the illegal rave, somewhere in a secret location near Coventry. Start by playing tracks at home, search dark parking lots with lonely telephone booths, and finally experience the euphoric release at the party.
Organizers, DJs and the police have their say in this carefully and lovingly crafted VR documentary, bringing together everything that made this period of dance culture so unique. You can experience In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats in groups of four as you head back to 1989 in search of the rave.
Originally presented at IDFA DocLab in 2022, In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats became a landmark work for immersive media. This year, it can be experienced as a new, collective multi-user adventure as part of DocLab’s 20th anniversary program. Presented in collaboration with WeMakeVR at ENTR VR Museum, made possible by CIIIC.
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