Ayahuasca on Stage
Richard G. Alexander
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Narrative Context archaeology Tourism Perspective graphical Ethnography |
| Key points | Argues that ayahuasca tourism in Iquitos is co-constructed through narrative themes ('The Medicine', 'The Shaman', 'Mother Ayahuasca') that are imported and performatively reproduced, rather than reflecting authentic local traditions. |
Abstract
AbstractThis chapter explores the city of Iquitos, Peru, as a dramaturgical setting for ayahuasca ‘shamanism’ tourism. It examines how foreign tourists and local actors co-construct narrative meanings around ayahuasca experiences through cultural, economic, and symbolic exchange. The chapter critiques motivational typologies in previous studies, arguing for a more nuanced, narrative-based understanding of touristic engagement with ayahuasca. It further identifies recurring narrative themes such as ‘The Medicine’, ‘The Shaman’, and ‘Mother Ayahuasca’, highlighting their problematic dimensions as imported, performatively reproduced concepts.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The globalization of ayahuasca: Harm reduction or benefit maximization? | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ayahuasca Shamanism in the Amazon and Beyond | 2014 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Antipodes of the Mind: Charting the Phenomenology of the Ayahuasca Experience | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Towards psychedelic apprenticeship: Developing a gentle touch for the mediation and validation of psychedelic-induced insights and revelations. | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Ayahuasca healing beyond the Amazon: the globalization of a traditional indigenous entheogenic practice | 2008 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |