| Description |
Shamanism as a phenomenon has been within the scope of interest among western science for at least a century. Researchers such as Gavril Xenofontov, or Maria Czaplicka, or even the controversial Michael Harner, have pioneered the studies of traditional shamanism in different geographical regions, and the interest in the topic remains vivid ever since. I would argue that the major break-true of shamanic ideas into the mainstream culture can be traced back to the late 60s, when Carlos Castaneda published his Teachings of Don Juan. The ideas of spirituality, transcendence of consciousness and environmentalism were very quickly explored and accepted by the hippie culture, marking the continuous change in the perception of shamanism within the western culture. The persona of the shaman, presented through various audiovisual means have since then firmly seeped into the pop culture and began to create a new, eclectic archetype of its own. Syncretic in its form, but independent of any tradition, it combines components of pop-culture, esoteric teachings, and fashion, as a counter cultural way of dealing with contemporary problems. Signs of neo-shamanic practices can be currently found in visual art, music, performances or even entertainment media. This presentation will explore the contemporary image of the shaman within modern pop-culture, where the archetype of the “urban shaman” is becoming an element of subcultural self-identification. Through case studies from various visual media, such as movies, graphical novels, or videogames, I aim to introduce variations of the visual shamanic aesthetics and position within the western society. Through psychological, aesthetical, and cognitive means the underlying mechanisms leading to the acceptance of the shamanic persona, as well as its perception by the environment can be explored.
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