MoshingAnnabel 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:

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 Moshing2. 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.

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. (Friedman, 2008)

EtiquetteAmongst 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 fights outside of Mosh

Mosh Fatalities

Despite the unsaid rules of Moshing fatalities

have occurred. In 2001 at Sydney‟s 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 Jessica‟s 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-and-tours_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-S-

LANEWAY-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-lineup-

announced.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:

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/moshing