ARCHAEOLOGY OF AYAHUASCA

2016

With a hint to the French philosopher Michel Foucault’s theory of archeology of knowledge, the experimental documentary critically engages with the knowledge production and experiential realities in relation to the Amazonian traditional psychoactive medicine plant ayahuasca in Peru. 

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Many tribes around the Amazon rainforest have historically used the tea made of at least two plants (usually locally known as ayahuasca and chacruna) at their ceremonial rituals, but today the commercialization and globalization of shamanism have radically changed the practices and the semantic field around ayahuasca. At the same time the phenomenon helps to counterweight the pharmacological regime, catering to the new approaches in plant medicines and practices of healing.  

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The neoshamanic wave that started in the West in the 1960s-1970s has become a wide shamanic revival with effects such as spiritual tourism and globally traveling shamans. The demand that has significantly accelerated within a relatively short period of time has brought along social anomalies, such as fake shamans expecting fast enrichment, heavy psychoactive plants sold freely at the market, and cultural commodification of indigenous people.  

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The documentary regards ayahuasca as a discursive formation and messy space, as well as the experientially valuable “other”. Acknowledging the social construction of knowledge the author also refers to the potential of cross-species communication and to the meaningful experiences derived from altered states of consciousness. 

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Produced by Cece Films. 

Length 14'