Altered States of Consciousness

Catalog description

Three hours seminar per week Throughout time and space humans have used auditory driving (drumming), sensory deprivation, meditation, trance, psychotropic substances, and other methods to produce altered states of consciousness. The intentional pursuit of altered states is so common that it may be one of the few human universals. Employing cross-cultural perspectives, this course explores how altered states are achieved, in what contexts, and by whom; what purposes such mindsets are believed to serve; and how these practices are manifested in art, ritual performance, and other mediums.