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Title:
“Turn on, tune in, drop out” –
How have societies perceptions of psychoactive substances impacted our views of
its influence in creative culture
“Turn on, tune in, drop out” - Is
there a place for psychoactive substances within modern society and how have
common perceptions influenced/impacted our views of psychedelic art in todays
creative culture?
“Say no to drugs” - How have perceptions of psychoactive substances in
society impacted our views of its influence in creative culture
“Say no to drugs” - Is there a place for psychoactive substances within
modern society and how have common perceptions influenced/impacted our views of
psychedelic art in todays creative culture?
What has been the impact of
psychoactive substances on our creative culture and how is psychedelic art
perceived in today’s ‘say no to drugs’ society?
Introduction
Psychedelic
definition
The 1960’s
hippie era has left many with memeories of free love, colour and a sense of
unitedness amongst individuals that no tother time in history has managed to
achieve.
-Define psychotropic/psychedelic/psychoactive
-Set cultural timeline/scene with regards to drugs and society – “say no
to drugs” campaign and aftermath.
-Current war on drugs…figures and stats?
-Give examples/quotes of current taboo surrounding drugs and how this
may be changing.
Link back to main question. Find quotes for both sides to open argument.
Start with the negative aspects/finding about drugs and their place in
the creative community/history. Give scientific quotes and examples.
Argument basis: Psychedelic drugs are harmful to society and the artwork
linked with it shouldn’t be considered art, To understand psychedelic artwork
you need to be on drugs.”…. VS ….
“Psychedelic artwork is no different to artwork completed whilst not not drugs
and can actually improve the final product” Why should psychedelic artwork be
shunned – its no different or less artistic in terms of quality”.
-Medical trials into current drugs – benefits emerging
--PTSD, Addiction, Anxiety, Depressions, Dementia, MDMA old people
trials, cancer trials
-Despite emerging positive, drugs in creative culture have continuously
been deemed negatively. Examples. Quotes from current sources. Examples of
artwork/artists downtrodden by psychedelic connotations to their work.
-Examples of artistic masters, movements and major positive influences
on art culture using drugs.
-Articles/quotes of scientists mentioning how drugs have been deemed
scientifically helpful in developing creativity.
-Drug trials and art (see reference word doc)
Image analysis 1
Image analysis 2
Image analysis 3
Conclusion
All aspects
of the creative arts are subjective, in terms of which members of the audience
like/dislike it. It is for this reason it has always been difficult to categorise
and mark the arts throughout the educational system. What is deemed “great art”
and what is “bad art”? This has been a debate throughout history and the arts
and is not something that is likely to be solved in the future. As long as
humans have their individuality, artistic tastes towards pieces will remain
individual also along with their perception by many different people.
The ever
changing artistic movements throughout history see popular tastes in artwork
and creativity come and go and fluctuate as much as the artwork itself.
It is
because of this that the views regarding psychoactive drugs and their impact on
creativity are difficult to conclude. Tye oerception of creativity should be
left to the individual persona and the individual piece they are looking at –
it shuld be left to subjectivity – as with all creative catagorisation.
The world
and its relationship with psychadlic substances is changing. As perceptions
change in medicine, it is safe to say that perceptions are likely to change in
the art world. As communitites begin to see the potential of these substances,
maybe the taboo view of these drugs and creativity may begin to recede also, iradicating
the view left with us from the 1960’s hippie era and “say no to drugs”
worldwide efforts.
As more and
more information is beginning to be released about various famous and
influential figures throughout history who have been under the influence of
mind altering drugs, perceptions are beginning to change. (give examples (dali,
Steve jobs (LSD), different leader/writers/poets)
What makes
a piece of artwork good or bad? Rhetorical question – research leading artists
answers? Popular debate amongst many high society people.
Expanding
consciousness – as with art it is the same with psychedelic substances
In
conclusion, wether or not a piece of art has been created sober or whilst under
the influence of a mind altering substance, should not justify whether a piece
of artwork is successful or not. It shouldn’t even come into it, and the taboos
surrounding this subject could be holding back progression and influencial
artisits movements that could catapult the creative indctry and community
further in the future.
Find final
quote by famous person to end on that backs up concluded argument!
Bibliography