The Flying Eyeball: The Mythopoetics of Rick Griffin
Contemporary Religion and Popular Culture January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-20127-1_5 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThis article argues that Rick Griffin was the most significant artist to come out of late-1960s California psychedelic visual culture. An early underground comix creator who contributed to R. Crumb's Zap, Griffin also produced rock posters and album covers, including the Grateful Dead's Aoxomoxoa. The author contends that Griffin was a genuine spiritual seeker who drew concepts and images from esoteric sources such as Manly P. Hall's Secret Teachings of All Ages, fusing these with psychedelic metaphysics and an ambiance of humor and dread typified by his "flying eyeballs" vision.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Griffin Art history Soul Performance art Freak |
| Key finding | Argues that Rick Griffin was the greatest artist to emerge from late-1960s California psychedelic visual culture and a genuine seeker who fused esoteric concepts with psychedelic metaphysics. |
Abstract
Griffin was arguably the greatest artist to emerge from the maelstrom of psychedelic visual culture in California in the late 1960s. An early and influential underground comix creator, contributing to R. Crumb’s legendary Zap, Griffin was also known for his rock poster art and album covers, including the Grateful Dead’s Aoxomoxoa album. Griffin was also a genuine seeker, drawing concepts as well as images from esoteric sources like Manly P. Hall’s Secret Teachings of All Ages, and fusing these with psychedelic metaphysics and an ambiance of humor and dread typified by his legendary “flying eyeballs” vision.