Playing Rules at Klangtherapie-Festival

By entering the festival site, you agree to follow our playing rules. If you break the rules, you may be asked to leave the festival. In that case, you will not be refunded the cost of your ticket.

No place for discrimination

We do not tolerate any form of discrimination or behaviour that demeans human dignity. This includes racism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, classism, sexism and sexualised violence. Human rights violating symbols, codes, flags and slogans are also prohibited.

We expect everyone to treat one another with respect and to be willing to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

Boundaries & Consent

Everyone has their own individual boundaries. Boundaries can be communicated verbally or non-verbally.
Consent is key: enthusiastic consent means that only ‘YES!’ counts as a yes.
The absence of objection does not equal consent.
Artists and crew members are in a position of power and therefore bear a special responsibility towards guests. Power imbalances also come into play in intimate encounters.
Let the music take your away and leave your mobile in the pocket.
No photos on the dancefloors!

Respectful & supportive community

Ask instead of guessing someone’s pronouns.
In solidarity: No Nipples Policy at the bars! Wear a top when joining the crowd.
In the presence of children, the use of psychoactive substances is an absolute No Go. Find details on children’s visiting hours and the duty of supervision in our Kinderschutzkonzept.
Drink Spiking is an absolute No Go.

Symbols & political messages

Please leave national flags at home and let us know in advance about any planned political speeches/actions.

Nature and the site

Be considerate of others, the site and nature. Leave as little trace as possible and take your rubbish with you!

Awareness Team

The Awareness Team offers solidarity support to people who have experienced discrimination or (sexualized) violence. The trained Awareness-Team operates confidentially and is available 24 hours a day: +49 176 52616997 More: https://www.klangtherapie-festival.de/news/awareness-klangtherapie/

Terms

Definitions evolve over time. The following definitions are the result of some research, though they may not be perfect. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for more precise wording: awareness@klangtherapie-festival.de

Discrimination

Discrimination is a social phenomenon involving disadvantage, exclusion, and devaluation. Discrimination is understood as any unjustified unequal treatment that occurs consciously or unconsciously and is supported by the system of power. Groups or individuals are disadvantaged, devalued, and oppressed based on individual or group-specific (perceived) characteristics. Discrimination can have devastating consequences for the person being discriminated against, severely impairing their well-being, mental stability, life expectancy, career prospects, and much more.

There are various forms of discrimination, such as:

Racism

Racism refers to the discrimination, devaluation, and exclusion of structurally disadvantaged groups or individuals based on actual or attributed physical or cultural characteristics (e.g., skin color, origin, language, religion). Racism prevents those affected from participating equally in society. A statement is racist if it is based on the logic of racial ideology.

Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is a worldview that sees the existence of Jewish people as the cause of all problems. The neologism “anti-Semitism” expresses a changed perception of Jews, who are not defined primarily by their religion but rather as a people, nation, or race. Therefore, it affects not only people of the Jewish faith, but also others who are identified as Jewish (or interpreted as such). Antisemitism includes ideas and patterns of argumentation that express conspiracy theories, denial and trivialization of the Shoah, calls for boycotts of Israeli products, treating people perceived as Jewish as representatives of Israel, or, for example, equating Israeli policy with the crimes of the Nazis.

Sexism

Sexism refers to various forms of discrimination against people based on their (assumed) gender. The term sexism also denotes the underlying ideology that codifies and hierarchizes gender roles. The manifestations of sexism are culturally and historically conditioned. Sexism is particularly evident in the marginalization of women, trans*, non-binary, and inter* people.

Ableism

Ableism describes discrimination based on physical, intellectual, and/or mental disability. It is rooted in a partially constructed image of health and abilities. People who deviate from this image are labeled as “disabled,” sick, or impaired and reduced to this characteristic, thereby being dehumanized. Their competencies in other areas of life are denied.

A person is not disabled by nature but is disabled by a society that erects barriers. The term “person with a disability” is used in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and can therefore be used as a valid self-identification.

Ageism

Age discrimination or ageism is a form of discrimination based on age.
Ageism describes the disadvantage faced by people of a relatively advanced age.
Younger and young people can also experience discrimination based on their age. Adultism refers to the belittling of children based on their age by denying them wisdom, maturity, independence, or intelligence due to their age and denying them participation in society.

Classism

Classism is a form of discrimination in which people face discrimination based on their social background or their perceived social status in society. Classism primarily affects people who are unemployed or living in poverty, working-class individuals, or people with little or no formal education. Social status is the only characteristic of discrimination not enshrined in equal treatment law.

Boundary Violation

A boundary violation is behavior that crosses a person’s personal boundaries. The perpetrator is not always aware of this boundary violation.

Personal Boundaries

Personal boundaries are not only situation-specific but also highly individual. These boundaries represent a personal space in which we can decide what is and is not permitted. Therefore, the perception of when boundaries have been crossed is subjective, and only the person affected can decide when their boundaries have been crossed. Personal boundaries can be divided into five categories:

emotional boundaries (one’s own feelings in a specific situation)
physical boundaries (e.g., one’s own personal space, no matter how large it may be)
social boundaries (e.g., one’s own friends, hobbies, etc.)
intellectual boundaries (e.g., one’s own thoughts and opinions)
spiritual boundaries (one’s own beliefs or lack thereof/spirituality)

Consent (enthusiastic)

Only an enthusiastic “YES!” counts as a yes. This means that “maybe later,” “I don’t know,” “not really,” and similar responses are not active consent = NO. Asking for or actively expressing consent can feel unfamiliar. We’re often wrong when we project our own thoughts onto others or silently assume what another person does (or doesn’t) want. Therefore: Consensus is the active consent of all participants, whether nonverbal or verbal. The people involved are engaged in a transparent process to create a shared solution. Consensus is a method for reflecting on and communicating personal needs, boundaries, and desires—and is therefore intimate and incredibly sexy.

Gender Identity

The gender with which a person identifies—or does not identify. This encompasses social gender, lived gender, and felt gender. Gender identity may differ from the sex assigned at birth. The gender one is perceived as (as interpreted in everyday life) does not necessarily correspond to one’s gender identity.

Perceived Gender (perceived as female/male)

The gender that other people attribute to a person based on appearance and behavior. Accordingly, a person read as female is someone who is perceived or read by others as a woman. This does not mean that this person is actually female or identifies as a woman.

Gender-sensitive language or gender-inclusive language

Using language in a way that addresses all genders and identities equally, visibly, and respectfully. Ensuring that no existing gender or person is denied their existence.

Pronouns

Personal pronouns can be used to describe participants in a situation or to refer to third parties in conversation. In German, the most commonly used pronouns are “er/sie.” Unfortunately, there is still no legally recognized third-person pronoun in the German language, as there is, for example, in English (“they/them”) or Swedish (“hen”). Alternative gender-neutral pronouns in German include, for example, “sier,” “xier,” “nin,” and “dey.” When you meet someone new, ask for their pronouns in addition to their name (e.g., “What’s your name? What pronouns do you use?”). Even when talking about someone whose gender you don’t know, the gender-neutral option is best. When referring to someone, you can also say “the person” or use their name instead of a gender-neutral pronoun.

Privilege

A privilege is an advantage that is not 100% earned and is disproportionate compared to other people (or groups). A privilege exists whenever people, by virtue of their group membership or ascribed group identity, have structural privileges and advantages that were not (entirely) earned through their own achievements or special qualifications. Conversely, these socially granted opportunities are denied to others or made more difficult for them to access. Privileges therefore always result in the disadvantage of others. From their privileged position, privileged individuals shape the norm (the power of the dominant society) and are often unaware of their privilege. It is precisely from a privileged position that there is room for action to democratize that very privilege and, ultimately, abolish it.

No Nipples Policy

is a small but powerful idea for showing solidarity with people who are perceived as female. People who are perceived as female cannot simply remove their tops in the heat without facing sexualization, objectification, stigmatization, staring, secret video recordings, or harassment—and without exposing themselves to the risk of physical assault (for which they are then also “to blame”). You can find more about the No Nipples Policy here.

Right to Define

At the heart of the right to define lies the perspective and needs of the person affected, which form the starting point for any further action. The only person who can define when an assault or a violation of boundaries is taking place or has taken place is the person affected. This also includes the form and naming of the violence or discrimination that the affected person has suffered. Situations are perceived differently, and people have individual emotional and physical boundaries. Therefore, there can be no universally valid definition of an assault.

The right to define applies to a specific case. It is possible that those affected may seek support to discuss, process, and name their experiences through dialogue. What happens after a boundary has been crossed or discrimination has occurred depends on the wishes and needs of the person affected.

Affected Person

We prefer the term “affected person” to the term “victim.” The latter implies an isolated incident, passivity, and a state of inevitable, irreparable helplessness, and creates a “victim identity.” The term “person affected” focuses more on the process of a boundary being crossed and highlights the structural component and the underlying system: “Affected person” points to the everyday nature of the situation, whereas the “victim” of an extraordinary, one-time event has no choice but to become a victim of fate.