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Vox ·Smart escape

Why We Should All Be Partying More

by Jonquilyn Hill

Published 2026-09-20 07:00:00-04:00

What happens to a culture when people stop gathering in crowded rooms to dance?

0:00 / 6:34 · Narrator Sulafat

Context

For most of human history, loud, late-night gatherings were built directly into everyday life, often taking place right inside the local church. Published on 20 September 2026, this Vox interview treats the modern party as a basic human requirement rather than a trivial hobby. The conversation pauses on the quiet reality of empty weekends, asking what a society loses when people stop gathering in the dark. It turns out that sweating on a crowded dance floor might actually be the oldest way to feel connected to something larger than yourself.

Show notes

An interview with a historian tracking the history of nightlife from rowdy medieval churches to 1920s Harlem rent parties. The conversation explains how communal gatherings offer a shared release that people once found in religion, and details the role of parties in launching artistic movements. It closes with the basic elements of a good party, focusing on how to help guests step outside their daily routines.

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