Hallucinogens and You?

P-C gets closest! (Although I kind of want to keep the challenge going, as it's cracking my shit up). It was a class on shamanism, for which I got both Anthro and Religious Studies credit.

The professor, a tiny woman was also my Japanese instructor, believed that Jim Morrison was the closest thing to a shaman modern white culture had to offer.

Some sort of pop survey class?

I actually attended the movies for the pop culture survey class. They ranged from Blade Runner (this pre-dated the Director's Cut, which is the One True Blade Runner) to Night Shift. Dunno what the prof's point was, but I got to watch a lot of free movies.

The professor, a tiny woman was also my Japanese instructor, believed that Jim Morrison was the closest thing to a shaman modern white culture had to offer.

My first reaction is, "Argh." But then I can't think of a better example off the top of my head.

Iggy Pop? Nah.

Ian Curtis.

Aren't shamans supposed to like, you know, help people, and not just engage in hedonism?

Ian Curtis was hardly a hedonist.

I was referring to Morrison, sorry.

Aren't shamans supposed to like, you know, help people, and not just engage in hedonism?

Without digging up my notebooks...oh, right, I didn't take any notes in college...her premise was that shamans were cultural leaders, and directed the cultural memes and mores of a society. NSM with the helping.

Also, drug use and visions.

I thought shamanism would somehow equate to mysticism. Which does sort of relate to Morrison, but I'm not sure how it would apply to Curtis.

Obejct of adoration and an icon, yes, but I don't see a lot of the mystical there.

directed the cultural memes and mores of a society

OK that I can see relating to Ian Curtis, though a distinct sub-culture, not society at large. I guess the same could be said about Morrison, though.