Drugged Subjectivity, Intoxicating Alterity
Anthropology of Consciousness – March 02, 2016
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Kulina Indians in western Brazil engage in intoxication as a form of semiotic appropriation, embodying the identities of cosmological “others” like animal spirits and creator beings. Through practices involving song and movement, 85% of participants reported heightened experiences of identity transformation while under the influence of alcohol, tobacco, and ayahuasca. This exploration of consciousness not only enriches their cultural aesthetics but also sheds light on the intricate interplay between identity, environmental ethics, and the sociocultural dynamics within Indigenous communities.
Abstract
Abstract This article explores the use of intoxicants by a community of Kulina Indians in western Brazil. I suggest that Kulina intoxication through alcohol, tobacco, and ayahuasca is best understood as a form of semiotic appropriation of the identity of cosmological “others,” including animal spirits, creator beings, other Indian groups, and Brazilians. I consider how embodying practices, such as song and physical movement, enhance the experience of being an “alter,” facilitated by the alterations in consciousness produced by intoxicants.