Connective Trance: A Foundational Definition for Artistic and Embodied Consciousness
SSRN Electronic Journal 2026 preprint DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6103226 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that 'Connective Trance' is a distinct liminal state of expanded awareness underlying creative and performative acts, defined by intensified attention, partial suspension of discursive cognition, and dynamic integration of body, perception, emotion, and environment. |
Abstract
This paper introduces and formally defines the concept of Connective Trance, an original theoretical contribution to the study of artistic creation, aesthetic experience, and embodied consciousness. Connective Trance designates a liminal state of expanded awareness that precedes or accompanies creative and performative acts, characterized by intensified attention, partial suspension of discursive cognition, and dynamic integration between the lived body, perception, emotion, and environment. Drawing on phenomenology, cognitive studies of attention, and artistic practice, this paper establishes the first canonical definition of the term and delineates its conceptual boundaries in relation to adjacent notions such as flow, absorption, and altered states of consciousness. By doing so, it provides a foundational framework for future research and applications of Connective Trance within art theory and practice-based inquiry.