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Psychedelics - Culture: History, Anthropology, Ethics

Module description

This module introduces you to some aspects of the psychedelic humanities through historical, anthropological, and ethical approaches. You will learn something of the history of psychedelics in Europe and North America, from Romantic era use of opium to the psychedelic sixties to contemporary festivals and rave, and contrast this with traditional practices in the Americas, exploring how the latter have been, and continue to be, impacted by the ongoing mechanisms of colonialism (e.g. ayahuasca tourism). You will also look at ethical issues arising from psychedelic use, that may include the prohibition of drugs and psychedelic exceptionalism, decolonial approaches, feminist approaches, and ecological ethics.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Module aims include:

• To introduce you to a range of historical, anthropological and ethical approaches to the study of psychedelics.
• To broaden your knowledge of the many historical and cultural contexts in which psychedelics are consumed, the way in which the experiences that they occasion are variously interpreted and understood, and of ethical issues that arise therefrom.
• 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 writing.
  

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically evaluate and synthesise theoretical frameworks and key texts relevant to this course demonstrating a comprehensive and systematic understanding of their interrelationships and applications.
• 2. Critically analyse and evaluate the methodological and conceptual strengths and limitations of different historical, anthropological, and ethical approaches to the psychedelic humanities.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Appraise the structure of the humanities and assess the interrelation between its subdisciplines (history, anthropology, ethics)
• 4. Critically evaluate the modes of inquiry employed in the humanities and apply them to the dimensions of a specific topic.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Critically analyse and interpret texts, construct coherent arguments, and engage with complex problems through sustained and well-evidenced discussion.
• 6. Independently design and conduct research to produce a critically engaged and rigorous essay, demonstrating original thought and advanced academic writing skills.

Syllabus plan

This module is expected to cover areas such as:

• the history of psychedelics in Europe and America;
• the use of psychedelics in traditional cultures, and the way they have been impacted by colonialism;
• Romanticism;
• psychedelic music;
• psychedelics and the weird;
• introduction to ethics;
• prohibition;
• decoloniality;
• ecological ethics.
  

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment