Berghain's Exclusivity: A Cultural Countereconomic Model

Key Quotes

"I always listen to the show I think it's great I listen to it for your excellent writing you're so good at making things understandable and you know pulling out these really beautiful metaphors and analogies and also the subjects that you choose are always there's never a dull one I always feel like wow that's a really good choice of subject"

Jonathan describes PJ's podcast "Search Engine" as excellent, highlighting its understandable explanations, beautiful metaphors, and compelling subject matter. Jonathan's praise suggests that PJ excels at making complex topics accessible and engaging for listeners.

"So the premise of our show is that we we try to answer questions we say no question too big no question too small and uh we like questions that take us on a journey if we can find them"

PJ explains the core concept of "Search Engine," emphasizing its commitment to exploring any question, regardless of size or complexity. PJ's description highlights the show's dedication to in-depth, investigative storytelling that takes listeners on a journey.

"The club does not explain how it makes its decisions about who can enter, but one foolish podcaster will try to explain anyway."

This quote sets up the central mystery and challenge of the podcast episode, as the narrator acknowledges the futility of trying to definitively explain Berghain's notoriously opaque door policy. The narrator frames their own attempt as a "foolish" endeavor, highlighting the elusive nature of the club's selection process.

"The perception that people in government had says a dj is not a concert people are going there to have sex or to drink or to whatever but not because of the dj they even sent people to clubs and documented that people were not facing the artist they were talking to each other stuff like that yeah so to kind of prove the point that it is not a concert exactly"

This quote illustrates the argument made by tax authorities that techno clubs should not be classified as concert venues. The tax officials believed attendees were primarily there for social or sexual reasons, not to appreciate the DJ's performance, which would subject the clubs to higher entertainment taxes.

"The bouncer told them not tonight and to the next day sunday they tried again they had a new plan to go during the day and separately during the day and separately okay and the idea being during the day less competition separately the bouncer might respect you more so or is it two chances"

Chris and Dan recount their second failed attempt to enter Berghain, detailing their strategy of trying again separately during the day. This highlights their continued efforts to understand and overcome the club's selection criteria, even after an initial rejection.

"The line outside berghain he said that's for people who haven't been able to or who haven't known to try while lutz was saying this to me i was nodding yes furiously my nodding like a broken bobblehead of course it all made sense and as a person obsessed with belonging and exclusion i was lapping it all up"

Lutz suggests that the long line outside Berghain is for those who haven't integrated into the scene, implying a more organic path to entry exists for those who are part of the culture. The narrator's enthusiastic reaction indicates that Lutz's explanation resonates deeply with their interest in themes of belonging and exclusion.