STUDY TASK 3 – PLANNING & STRUCTURING AN ESSAY Suggested Research Question. This can be a topic or theme, but please try to be as precise as possible. Themes Psychoactive substances and creativity: • 1960’s hippie movement/culture and its impact on laws ever since – “Say No to Drugs” campaign • Laws in place - stifled progression vs now - slow change in laws after seeing the benefits • Taboo & censorship vs personal experience, medical truths, exploration and progression • Creativity and addiction – shamanic rituals and medical trials • Medical conditions aided & affected: PTSD, addiction, dementia, cancer, depression, anxiety, etc • Pharmaceutical companies vs patient need/well being and metal/medical positive progression • Artists/artistic movements influenced by psychoactive substances • How psychedelic art is viewed in todays culture – common misconceptions influenced by taboo? Possible questions Has society been told the truth about psychoactive substances and how have these substances influenced our current creative culture? Psychedelic art – What is classed as psychedelic art, how is it viewed upon/what is its standing and how have psychoactive substances influenced today’s creative culture? How have psychoactive substances influenced the creative culture we know today? “Say No to Drugs” – What is the place for psychoactive substances within society today and how have these substances influenced our current creative culture? Or “Say No to Drugs” - Is there a place for psychoactive substances within modern society and how have these substances influenced our current creative culture? **************** Notes: “A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior.” http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/psychoactive_drug.htm Psychoactive substance groups: • • • • •
Anxiolytics: Benzodiazepine Euphoriants: MDMA Stimulants: Amphetamine, caffeine, cocaine, nicotine Depressants (inc. sedatives, hypnotics, narcotics): Alcohol, opioids Hallucinogens: Psilocybin, LSD. Salvia divinorum, nitrous oxide
Psychoactive substances include: • • • • • • • • • • • •
LSD DMT Mescaline Psilocybin Salvia divinorum Cocaine Ecstasy Amphetamines Opiates Cannabis - cannabinoids Caffeine Nicotine
Which Academic Sources will you reference? Include a Harvard Referenced bibliography of at least 5 sources. Books: ‘Art for survival the illustrator and the environment’ - Various ‘Psychedelic optical and visionary art since the 1960s’ – David S. Rubin ‘Juxtapoz psychedelic’ – Hannah Stouffer ‘Acid dreams the CIA LSD and the sixties rebellion’ – Martin A. Lee & Bruce Shlain
Breaking Convention 2015: Medical interviews, essays, papers and lectures Terrance McKenna on drugs and creativity Alexander Shulgin on drugs and creativity
What Images Illustrations will you analyse? Include at least one piece of Graphic Design to analyse in depth (but no more than three)
1960’s “Say No to Drug’s” campaign posters / propaganda Album artwork Masters of art works /movements Current psychedelic art pieces (Breaking convention artwork) Sex and psychedelics gifs
Essay Map Using the Study Task Hand out, construct an essay map outlining the FOUR main points of your argument. This essay map should include a sentence which states your thesis, and how it will be addressed. It should also include FOUR sentences, each outlining a different element of your central argument. You should also refer to how this essay map links to the key sources that you have highlighted and the example(s) of Illustration practice.
Extras: LCA anonymous questionnaire • Outline what psychoactive substances are • Thoughts on psychoactive substances • Experience of use • If used – what are experiences / thoughts / gains / mental implications / impact on creativity – if any • Thoughts on legality / medical progression • Ask the question “Do you think psychoactive substances influence / enhance / enrich creativity?” and how… • Personal views and comments Peer Feedback – How could this Essay Map be refined / developed? Show this form to a fellow student. They should record their feedback in the box below
Isaac Abrams All Things are One Thing - 1966 http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool/exhibition/summer-love Psychoactive substance/influence: Hallucinogens
Isaac Abrams Birthday - 2010 http://www.isaacabrams.com/feature.php?group=birthday Psychoactive substance/influence: Hallucinogens
Alex Grey Goldself Oil on canvas http://alexgrey.com/art/paintings/soul/ Psychoactive substance/influence: Hallucinogens
Tokio Aoyama Can a sista rock a mic -2012 http://tokio-art.com/can-a-sista-rock-a-mic/ Psychoactive substance/influence: Psilocybin and Cannabis
Tokio Aoyama Dela part 2 http://tokio-art.com/155/ Psychoactive substance/influence: Psilocybin and Cannabis
Tokio Aoyama Musica http://tokio-art.com/musica-2/ Psychoactive substance/influence: Psilocybin and Cannabis
Tokio Aoyama Red lady http://tokio-art.com/red-lady/ Psychoactive substance/influence: Psilocybin and Cannabis
Chris Dyer Future Primitive Psychoactive substance/influence: Peruvian Ayahuasca
Chris Dyer Foodchained Psychoactive substance/influence: Peruvian Ayahuasca
Pablo Picasso Les Demoiselles d'Avignon – The Rose Period "The smell of opium is the least stupid smell in the world." Psychoactive substance/influence: Opium
Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night 1889 Psychoactive substance/influence: Absinth & Digitalis
Jean Michel Basquiat Untitled 1981 Psychoactive substance/influence: Cocaine & Heroin
Salvador Dali Psychoactive substance/influence: LSD & Hashish
Jackson Pollock The Key - 1946 Psychoactive substance/influence: Alcohol
Arlene Sklar-Weinstein Between Heaven and Hell - Self-portrait in mirror - 1968 Psychoactive substance/influence: Mescaline & LSD
R. Crumb Psychoactive substance/influence: LSD & Cannabis
Mati Klarwein Bitches Brew Psychoactive substance/influence: LSD
Damien Hurst Pharmaceuticals Works named after and influenced by LSD, Opium and Valium