Jesus on LSD
Jason S. Sexton
Boom December 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1525/boom.2015.5.4.78 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD |
| Key points | Argues that the transformation of Alex Grey's painting "Purple Jesus" into LSD blotter art by Mark McCloud illustrates the California spirit of innovation and transmogrification, with the image of Jesus holding lasting significance for both McCloud and the California narrative. |
Abstract
The California spirit of innovation and transmogrification showed itself when Alex Grey’s “Purple Jesus” oil-on-wood painting made its way to San Francisco. It was purchased by a shrewd collector, Mark McCloud, who turned the image into what became Purple Jesus Blotter in the early 1990s. Through a complicated history and even more complicated philosophy of psychedelia, the lasting significance of Jesus for both McCloud and the California narrative highlight the significance of this trippy Jesus story.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on LSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Experimental Use of Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy | 1970 | Historical analysis | |
| LSD: My Problem Child | 1981 | Historical analysis | |
| On the Use and Abuse of LSD | 1968 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Use of Music in Psychedelic (LSD) Psychotherapy | 1972 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Flashbacks: Recurrent Intrusive Images After the Use of LSD | 1969 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |