Deleuze and Guattari and the Psychedelic Revival

We are in the midst of a psychedelic revival. Scientifically, the therapeutic potentialities of psychedelics get a lot of attention. The philosophical and aesthetic dimensions of the inner journeys and its implied significance that often transgress medical scientific frameworks has received relatively less attention. Tonight, our panel will offer ideas and thought on these current developments with the launch of a special issue of the journal Deleuze and Guattari Studies.

While the instances where Deleuze and Guattari refer directly to psychedelics in their work are rare (but nevertheless explicit), many of the concepts they have put forward in their philosophical collaborations are “hallucinatory” in themselves: ideas such as becoming-animal, becoming-matter, or the Body without Organs seem outlandish but they gain new significance when read in relation to psychedelic experiences. This evening several authors that have contributed to this special issue will give a very short introduction to their work, and then will discuss further the value of philosophy, art, and film in the current debates and scientific research on psychedelics. With contributions by Amir Vudka, Erica Biolchini, Daan Oostveen, Marc Tuters and Patricia Pisters. Moderation by Dirk Vis.

About the speakers

Amir Vudka is assistant professor Film, AI and Posthumanism at the department of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam. He is director of the Sounds of Silence Festival and the Altered States Festival in The Hague.

Erica Biolchini is lecturer Film and Media Culture at the department of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam. She works on a PhD project on psychedelic aesthetics and relational healing practices.

Daan Oostveen is lecturer in New Humanities, Comparative Religion, and Posthuman Philosophy at Utrecht University. He is the author of the forthcoming book Rhizomatic Belonging on Multiple Religious Allegiances (AUO).

Marc Tuters is assistant professor New Media Culture at the department of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam. He writes on radical subcultures online and is affiliated with the Digital Method Initiative.

Patricia Pisters is professor Film and Media Culture at the department of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam. She is a board member of the OPEN foundation, dedicated to advancing psychedelic research.

Dirk Vis writes fiction, essays, scripts, and poetry, in Dutch and English. He is editor of De Gids.