Hello!
How are you? To go with our reading today about the accidental discovery of LSD, here is a video of a famous song that many people felt was about LSD - the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."
Before we begin, however, as a review, here are the board notes for our class on 11/4:
Now let's look at, and listen to, the song!
The Beatles themselves said that it was not about LSD, or any drugs at all. But the lyrics to the song have the imagery to them that fit in part with what Albert Hoffman had said were his experiences with LSD when he began experimenting with it in the 1940s.
In the U.S., Britain, and Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, LSD became a popular drug amongst hippies and many other young people, and influenced the popular music of the time. The concert poster at the top was typical of the time for its psychedelic imagery - the kind many people connected with LSD use.
While many believed that LSD was not harmful, the experiences of many young people at the time showed that it could be very harmful - especially in young people who might already have had delicate mental health.
LSD became an example of a discovery in science that later became important in the cultural history of the late 20th century in many Western countries - but for the wrong reasons.
Activity/homework
Listen to this song. Listen to it as many times as you want or need. You do not have to understand what they mean - because the lyrics really do not make a logical story at all. But what do you think of it? What imagery do you get from the song that you find fantastic or impactful? How do you think it might fit with what Albert Hoffman's experience with LSD was?
Make some notes about this and bring them in next week to share.
See you then!
Before we begin, however, as a review, here are the board notes for our class on 11/4:
Now let's look at, and listen to, the song!
The Beatles themselves said that it was not about LSD, or any drugs at all. But the lyrics to the song have the imagery to them that fit in part with what Albert Hoffman had said were his experiences with LSD when he began experimenting with it in the 1940s.
In the U.S., Britain, and Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, LSD became a popular drug amongst hippies and many other young people, and influenced the popular music of the time. The concert poster at the top was typical of the time for its psychedelic imagery - the kind many people connected with LSD use.
While many believed that LSD was not harmful, the experiences of many young people at the time showed that it could be very harmful - especially in young people who might already have had delicate mental health.
LSD became an example of a discovery in science that later became important in the cultural history of the late 20th century in many Western countries - but for the wrong reasons.
Activity/homework
Listen to this song. Listen to it as many times as you want or need. You do not have to understand what they mean - because the lyrics really do not make a logical story at all. But what do you think of it? What imagery do you get from the song that you find fantastic or impactful? How do you think it might fit with what Albert Hoffman's experience with LSD was?
See you then!
Images: Top - screenshot of original image taken from https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2013/11/our-favorite-concert-posters.html/Board notes - personal photograph. All rights reserved.
I do not own the rights to the original image. Screenshot taken and uploaded for classroom use only.
Video uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the musical composition or the video. Uploaded for classroom purposes only.
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