The History and Anthropology of Psychedelic Use
| Module title | The History and Anthropology of Psychedelic Use |
|---|---|
| Module code | PSYM246Z |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Andy Letcher (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
Note: This module is of 10 weeks’ duration and will be offered in any of Terms 1, 2 or 3.
This module introduces you to aspects of the psychedelic humanities through historical and anthropological approaches. You will explore a range of qualitative approaches, contrasting them with the quantitative approaches of the sciences. Case studies from the literature – such as Romantic era drug use and ayahuasca use amongst the Shipibo – will widen your field of knowledge concerning the use of psychedelic substances in cultures distant in space or time, situating contemporary interest in psychedelics in a wider historical and cultural perspective. You will be able to assess the relative merits of these approaches from the humanities to the study of psychedelics.
Module aims - intentions of the module
- To introduce you to a range of historical and anthropological approaches to the study of psychedelics.
- To broaden your knowledge of the many historical and cultural contexts in which psychedelics are consumed, and the experiences that they occasion interpreted and understood.
- To equip you with better tools to examine your own assumptions regarding the meaning of psychedelic practices and experiences.
- To equip you with improved and transferable critical study skills, in terms of reading and assessing texts, and essay writing.
The course is delivered online, with both asynchronous and (optional) synchronous (live) activities, such as pre-recorded lectures, audio discussions, online written questions and answers, reading material with associated questions and activities, live Q&A with the teacher(s), live student seminar discussions, and more.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the theories and texts (readings) for the course
- 2. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the methodological and conceptual advantages and disadvantages of historical and anthropological approaches to the psychedelic humanities.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Understand the structure of the humanities and the interrelation between its subdisciplines (history, anthropology)
- 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the kinds of inquiry employed in the humanities and dimensions of a specific topic
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and present texts with guidance, and discuss complex problems
- 6. Demonstrate the ability to research independently and write a critical essay on a module theme
- 7. Assess personal assumptions about the meaning and impact of psychedelic practices and experiences, and the impact of learning on these assumptions
Syllabus plan
This module is expected to cover areas such as: introduction to anthropology and the anthropology of drugs; ayahuasca and the west; ethnography as a methodology; the historical origins and western study of ‘shamanism’; psychedelics outside the Americas; contemporary psychedelic subcultures; psychedelics and politics; psychedelic art and aesthetics; psychedelic music; drugs and the Romantics; psychedelics and the weird.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 90 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 60 | Structured readings, videos and activities (padlets and discussion forums) |
| Independent study | 90 | Collaborative discussions and related activities, weekly reflections |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly reflections on progress | 30 mins-1 hour per week | All | Educator feedback within module |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 x 1000 word critical reading response | 30 | 1000 words max | All | Feedback via ELE |
| 1 x 2000 word essay | 70 | 2000 words max | All | Feedback via ELE |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical reading response | Critical reading response, as above (30%) | All | Referral/deferral period |
| Academic essay | Academic essay, as above (70%) | All | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading: resources and activities will be provided within the module on a week-by-week basis
Other resources:
- Carrier, N. & Gezon, L.L. (2024). The Anthropology of Drugs. Routledge.
- Labate, B., and Cavnar, C. (Eds.), Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon and Beyond. Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199341191.001.0001
- Davis, E. (2019). High Weirdness : Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies. The MIT Press.
- Letcher, A. (2006). Shroom. A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom. Faber & Faber Ltd.
- Langlitz, N. (2013). Psychedelics: From clinic to art studio, from rainforest to church. BioSocieties, 8(2), 229-230. https://doi.org/10.1057/biosoc.2013.8
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE - https://ele.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 29/10/2024 |
| Last revision date | 09/12/2024 |
