The term “psychedelic” is derived from the Greek words ψυχή (psyche, “soul”) and δηλοῦν (deloun, “to manifest”), translating to “soul-manifesting”. A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one’s mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly ordinary fetters. Psychedelic states are an array of experiences including changes of perception such as hallucinations, synesthesia, altered states of awareness or focused consciousness, variation in thought patterns, trance or hypnotic states, mystical states, and other mind alterations. These processes can lead some people to experience changes in mental operation defining their self identity (whether in momentary acuity or chronic development) different enough from their previous normal state that it can excite feelings of newly formed understanding ranging from revelation and enlightenment to the opposing polarity of confusion and psychosis.
The fashion for psychedelic drugs gave its name to the style of psychedelia, a term describing a category of rock music known as psychedelic rock, as well as visual art, fashion, and culture that is associated originally with the high 1960s, hippies, and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Psychedelia truly took off in 1967 with the Summer of Love and, although associated with San Francisco, the style soon spread across the US, and worldwide.
A partial list of features found in psychedelic art:
– Fantastic, metaphysical and surrealistic subject matter;
– Kaleidoscopic, fractal or paisley patterns;
– Bright and/or highly contrasting colors;
– Extreme depth of detail or stylization of detail;
– Innovative typography and hand-lettering.
(Wikipedia)
The use of the keyword “psychedelic” on REDEFINE will encompass psychedelia’s role in music, film, art, multimedia, and movement.
