Robert Crumb's Psychedelic Culture

The psychedelic culture on the 1960’s altered the way art could be interpreted by exposing the thought processes available at different levels of consciousness. Since art is predominantly a subjective experience, the viewer is able to decipher the piece in ways that which their mind is constrained to. As a result, psychedelic art allows the viewer to maximize visual and emotional potential in ways that the mind cannot do so naturally. Influential comic artist of the late sixties, Robert Crumb was known for his archetypical characters and is a suitable example for someone whose work has been heavily impacted by psychedelic substances. Crumb claimed that the first time he took LSD, he found himself in an artificial world and he realized, “this
This concept is quite similar to the way in which Sternberg and Lubart (1999) view creativity, by being both original and useful in achieving a certain goal. If altering a typical state of consciousness aids in boosting creative output and encourages originality, then those inclined should be free to do so. Another study conducted by Berlin and colleagues (1955) consisted of analyzing the effects of Mescaline and LSD on four graphic artists to confirm whether persons with specially refined visual perceptions and skills are better affected by these agents as stimulants for their creativity. A panel of judges assessed each of the artist’s work and noted each painting as having “greater aesthetic value” (p. 491) than their usual work, observing bolder lines and a more vivid use of color. However, there was a consist theme of poor execution when compared to their usual paintings (Krippner, 1985). This study shows that those who already identify as creative individuals are more likely to see an increased level of creative output when conducting their