#41: that wasn't a microdose
Welcome to issue #41 of THIS NEWSLETTER CANNOT SAVE YOU. I'm writing to you this issue from Denver, where I've been attending the big Psychedelic Science conference hosted by MAPS. I've been taking shifts at the Erowid Center booth, meeting and greeting the throngs as it were, and then tonight, my friend James took me to see Reggie Watts and Eric Andre open for the Flaming Lips.
In case it's not immediately obvious, those are giant pink inflatable robots onstage.
Anyway, in lieu of a regular list of recommendations, I thought I'd present instead a list of recommended psychedelic / drug inspired short films and comedy bits for your bemusement. Some of these I've written about before, others are making their debut in this issue, and screening these together would be a fine way to convince your conservative guests that it's time for them to go home.
Scottovision
"A Bicycle Trip" (2009) - A whimsical and visually sumptuous animated depiction of the day chemist Albert Hofmann took the first known acid trip, accidentally ingesting LSD without realizing it and then attempting to ride home from work safely on his bicycle.
"Dreaming Synthetic" (2018) - Creator Warren Lamb describes this animated film as "a psychedelic exploration of a dreamer’s sleeping mind." If I could get that high in my dreams, I would definitely sleep a little more (wakka wakka). I wonder if the dreaming pretext was added simply to get the project across the finish line without unnecessary scrutiny (it was originally a senior project at university). Regardless it's got an authentic intrepid quality that is worth dedicated attention.
"Abbi and Ilana Take Shrooms" (2021) - In this scene from the comedy show Broad City, the two leads, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, take shrooms and roam the city, becoming animated cartoon characters in the process. But harsh reality looms when one of them gets a phone call from her boss. You don't need more context than that to enjoy this clip.
"Man or Tree" (2022) - Official description: "In the wilderness, a tree begins to question whether it may actually be a man tripping on hallucinogens." From Parallel Madness, a Manchester-based writing/directing team.
"Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No" (2010) - An animated recounting of the time a Major League pitcher was called upon to pitch on a day he'd taken LSD. Animated by James Blagden.
"A Shaman's Tale" (2022) - Director / animator / composer Jules Guérin delivers a stunning, much too short rendition of a Peruvian folk tale, in which a healer becomes a conduit between the cosmos and the earth by evolving into a vine called ayahuasca.
"The Clockwork Elves" (2020) - An animated short film by Nick Cross, in which a newly-minted shaman gets acquainted with the territory. Cross describes it as "a pyschotropic exploration of spirituality and death - or it could be a tale of a little goofball hopped up on goofballs. Either way - it's a cartoon." And it's a mind-bender.
"The Night I Dance With Death" (2017) - In this animated short film, a young man decides on the spur of the moment to ingest a hallucinogen, and becomes suddenly and intimately familiar with the concept of ego death - although its metaphorical representation is wilder than you might imagine. Directed by Vincent Gibaud.
"This Is How We Trip" (2009) - You ever found yourself amazed at a particularly realistic depiction of the psychedelic experience on film or video, and think to yourself how amazing it is that we're able to communicate even a minuscule sliver of these ineffable sensations and realizations to each other? Meanwhile, there's this video.
"Druggachusettes" (1997) - A classic comedy sketch from Mr. Show starring David Cross and Bob Odenkirk, parodying the clearly innocuous children's TV shows created by Sid and Marty Krofft.
Bonus round
"Hey, kids, it's me - Thorazine the Clown!"
Psychedelic meme break
Exit music
I'm sending you out with two tracks to close out on this theme: the ominous glory of "Psychoactive Drugs" by Emergency Broadcast Network, and the insistent urgency of "E Talking" by Soulwax. Don't skip the videos on these two.
A YouTube playlist with most of this issue’s recs can be found here.
Until next time, I remain your friendly correspondent, thinking of you,
Scotto
Scotto Moore is the author of WILD MASSIVE, BATTLE OF THE LINGUIST MAGES, and YOUR FAVORITE BAND CANNOT SAVE YOU.
