McKenna on Culture, Art, and Fighting the System

[Xziz10ths]

capitalism IS cannibalism of the energy/time/soul of a person.

[andrewbrailsford]

@Xziz10ths love this comment

[arzoyan]

Capitalism is the wage slavery of working class for the abstract process of capital acuumulation and concentration in the interest of the ruling class. A process of monetary exploitation,distortion and denial of our common humanity in cooperation for our common needs and well being. World capitalism is the organised legalised robbery of the energy of working men and women for the paarasitic ruling class.

[psycomedia]

turn off

tune out

drop dead

watch?v=FmgKwJhodZw

[MrParombo]

Time = Art

[kukaipaa]

Work harder. Destroy the planet faster. Work work work until all is ruin.

[kukaipaa]

You can download the entire "Psychedelics in the Age of Intelligent Machines" version at Internet Archive website.

[landgabriel]

Happiness is a healthy body. 

[roachrip]

MEME'S brothers n sisters...

[harlequinforest777]

The Venus Project is the answer! It's time for a WORLD-WIDE REVOLUTION! If Egypt can do it, we can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[michuilol]

@harlequinforest777

sigh

[Starwheel6]

Paradoxical resonance of galactic orbital eccentricity rules!

Photonic waves from star to spacious neurons unlimit mind

Tribal updated Rome in cyclical solar burn as masses neurons fiddle.

Oblate spheroid earth=Equinox to equanimity-rotation of surface

gravitational acceleration of awakening species birthing to beyond.

Bask in the oceanic spaciousness of infinite creativity.

 Seems to me riding majestic creativity in truth of nature's interdimensional now

is workable.

[weepingmidwinter]

@Starwheel6 Very poetic, very deep

[benny2sheds]

Tibetan Bon religion believes that happiness exists of itself and is not a result of an outcome or ambition of some sort. A Person just needs to realise its all around them.

[Guitarscreech06]

Infinite Love is the Only Truth; Everything else IS illusion

[elguapotetigre]

This guy was quite deluded but I am always mesmerized by his talks.

[sitjar]

@elguapotetigre in what way do you think he's deluded?

[TwinFlameify]

yes we are lead buy the people whos awareness is the sice of a peanut, and they only can uderstand their own needs and none others, thus we have a third of population in war a third of population in hunger and the other third trying to work its ass off for these elite bastards.

None the less i love you all

[symptomy]

@TwinFlameify  is this the offering you have for that populace ?

[TwinFlameify]

@symptomy my offering or what i want to see is this slavery system colapse the whole economical structure must fall in order to give birth to the spiritualization of humanity if we are to succede in not making the same mistake that was made in the last evolutionary cycle. I believe the human race need to free it self from fear and embrace all that is, awareness or understanding will follow.

[arizona13ay]

One of my favorite excerpts! "The counterculture is still ALIVE!"

[islandgal75]

interesting how the word culture begins with 'Cult'

[miamigroove]

0:40 I would instead say we are led by the 'most' among us....the most selfish, the most greedy, the most hateful, the most stupid...:)

[walkman123456789]

wtf is creating art going to do. fucking hippies. i like terrence mckenna though real interesting stuff.

[PermaWrath]

@walkman123456789 Do you enjoy any form of music, picture, architecture, literature, sculpture, film, etc etc? Well all of that is art, you fucking moron.

[ChefChris47]

All forms of creativity can be considered art, including but not limited to all of the common objects that we need and use today. From the computer you're using to watch this to the shoes on your feet.

Artistic expression and empathy will make our future a brighter one, we need not make wars over our differences when we're all truly the same. We're all human here, let's start acting like the civilization we claim to be.

[XxoXBarbiedollXoxX]

@walkman123456789 - your an idiot... why would you even like Mckenna???? He probalbly stood for everything you dont.

[nepalnt21]

i love this video...

i think if all of humanity had to take one 3 minute clip of terence and nothing else, this would be a big contender.

[znikacz]

True. Along with the "Reclaim your mind" one.

[finlan9]

I wonder how happy that girl is who asked "How do we fight back?" im sure she is quite happy to be part of such a good litle video clip;)

[crimeminister]

I do not agree with his views on culture. No art without culture, just chaotic stupidity. Culture is the cradle of any meaningful art, even insects follow this way.

[Zubav]

But that is exactly why he says that we need to create culture as humans and not consume all the trash (not to say our culture doesn't have good things in it) that our culture is giving us. "We need to push the envelope of creativity and language and set no boundaries for ourselves". We must create a culture that does not destroy.

[crimeminister]

so, in fact Culture is your friend, if it has good things to offer too, only selfdestructive greedy Culture is a problem for Terra. and perhaps there is a misunderstanding, when i use the word "Culture", I mean the social context generally of course. not only western way of modern junk and dumpstyle.

[Zubav]

I think that yes, clearly what he is aiming for is that the western culture we live in has turned to garbage, eastern culture is much more sane and organized. The western culture we see is not benefiting us in as many ways as it could be, but culture can be good, we just have to make it that way.

[crimeminister]

western culture - by the way, who defines this, what is western - has its reasons why it became what it is today. do not value it to low. its a question of mentality and locality. humans are equal and they are not. A´s culture is not best for B and vice versa.

[Zubav]

This is a very good reply. I'm still trying to learn about equality and I sometimes don't consider this subject, although the term western is just obviously a simple reference to the way this side of the worlds culture is running.

[MudButterfly]

I think what McKenna means is that ANY culture is a set of predetermined beliefs that move you away from the presense of immediate experience and that is why it is inherently "bad". It prevents people from questioning and seeking on their own.

[Tomaldinho9]

@MudButterfly ok thats fine and dandy. But what is the benefit of questioning and seeking? Won't that cause more problems than it will solve?

[MudButterfly]

@Tomaldinho9 i don't know what you mean by problems. you can always resort to watching american idol and drinking coors for the rest of your life..

[Tomaldinho9]

@MudButterfly umm... what do you mean?

[Khobraz]

OhSleepAwake, you're just too weak minded to handle the experience, so is the guy who jumped off the cliff, lmao, look at mckennas intelligence and insight, he dident jump off a cliff, just GTFO this topic please, your only creating tension among people here to learn, these pharmacological substances just help us understand the machinery of the mind, everything is brain chemistry. eating is brain chemistry. good day.

[Gerainich]

Sometimes you do need them, sometimes drugs serves as a sort of a key which opens your mind for more knowledge and information. If You (somebody) had bad experience on them/with them it doesent meen they are bad. Its depends How you use them. (example: Nuclear power)

Whats weird that i have explain that here.(maybe i dont have to) People screaming wake up wake up but they asleep themselves.

Im not saying tham im awake by the way. There too much to learn aroun every corner

[mancheromanchero]

ya don't NEED drugs. Drugs are for the conveniece of others. You don't NEED a car either...but if you want to save time, then go for it. Cars are dangerous. you get into an accident BOOM! your heads gone. Thats's why we have lisence and registrations.....etc. Drugs too, are dangerous so there should be a lisence for drugs as well for the responsible people.

[OhSleeperAwake]

they are a load of rubbish and do no good for anyone at all.

[Zubav]

And I'm fairly confident that the psychoactive substances Terrance McKenna has to talk about are not dangerous, that is if you have a fair deal of knowledge on drugs and have a healthy good lifestyle going on. Think about it. All these cliff jumping crack heads are obviously not achieving a healthy lifestyle and that is why they have bad trips and want to kill them selves. People are dumb these days and only do these substances for the high when in reality you need to be prepared for these trips

[OhSleeperAwake]

i knew all what he is saying and i didnt take psychedelic drugs!

[fingerminger]

Maybe you should.

[OhSleeperAwake]

i already have done.drugs are not part of true spiritual growth! you dont need them.everyone i know who has done alot of this has ended up in a right mess, i heard just yesterday that a friend walked into the sea off his head and dies. terrible.drugs, natural or not ruin peoples lives all the time.they arent good and never will be

[fingerminger]

I didn't say you needed them. I can't really make sense of your paragraph-long rant. Learn how to construct proper sentences.

[OhSleeperAwake]

whats a prper sentence, i dont like "proper" i dont do it. i dont spell either. asshole.

[fingerminger]

Well then you're retarded. The English language is something you will have to learn.

[OhSleeperAwake]

i dont have to do anything fuck right off asshole! i am english! i speak english unlike this american asshole on here. who the hell do you think you are fuckwit!

[Zubav]

I would agree, a lot of people are very defensive about there opinions on these subjects. People have to learn that this is not a violent out of control argument, but more of a debate on true and false information and facts. What I said below is purely fact that I have obtained from research over a few years.

[claymanlucas]

lies.

[fezzappa]

closed mind is not a good thing- when you open it,you see the truth- and this is absolutely true- sorry if you don't "get' it

[fezzappa]

as the mind expands,we understand things and reasons for doing cettain things,that we would never have believed to be true in the past-

as my man pete townsend said a long time ago-

too much of anything is to much for me-

drugs used and abused in the wrong situation are surely a bad thing-

however- used responsibly many drugs have very positive effects and do teach us many things-

[Zubav]

Lol. Marijuana (a very beneficial substance for expanding the mind's creativity and imagination) is not a drug. It's a plant. Look at "Drugs" as a term for counter substances that were man made. For instance meth, crack, heroin, and all those other fucked up substances that will destroy your life. Natural psychoactive plants such as Marijuana, Mushrooms, and Salvia have been used by ancient cultures over history for medicinal uses, meditation purposes and helping to expand the mind.

[stickybelvedere]

dpends on how you use the word "drug".

every single psychoactive chemical, natural and synthetic, effect your brain pretty much the same way.

[Eidelmania]

fighting the system? OoO please, I thought he was going to talk about figs. What's up with his voice? sounds like a an alien is trapped in his voice box.

[pathwaytoallah]

LOLZ what? what kind of a joke was that? HAHAHA dont quit the day-job mate

[attilaclark]

Fight injustice with non-compliance. It cost the evil system alot to make you comply and this will undermine the evil you are fighting.

[attilaclark]

We're led by the smartest and possibly most sociopathic entities that live here. The question I have is would it be possible to actually have a Jesus at the controls and make it better.

[Anamnesicus]

Damn it is really sad that he is not with us anymore, look at all novelty these days. He was amazing man.

[rhinonose]

art doesn't really solve anything though. it's culture. just saying.

[jadedmisanthropy]

Art challenges culture and eventually breaks down and transforms it, so I would say it actually does solve a lot.

[smudge6699]

As Picasso said:

"The act of creation first requires an act of destruction."

For newness to be oldness must die.

Isn't life getting exciting?

Who would not want to be alive to see an epoch making change in human history.

[mikeweckstein]

hell yea! lets destroy the lies and make a world where plants grow everywhere! healthy plants, not just drugs! lol. but of course there would have to be hemp around and mary jane and the other fun stuff. i'm happy to be alive at this point in time. the world could completely change in moments and no one would even know what hit them.

[smudge6699]

I like your style.

You can't prepare for everything but you can be ready for anything.

Check out "Terence McKenna Hope" for a 4 minute video that he recorded 10 years ago but aptly fits the world now.

To save you time.

/watch?v=1iFpw0uIkbo

Turn the volume up and go full screen.

;-)

[daressalaam2006]

CREATE ART! GODDAMNIT! lol

[mikeweckstein]

art ftw! i fuckin love coloring!!!! and water colors, and my personal fave is oil pastels <33 lmao. for real tho, art is amazing

[jnathan310]

bloody students i wish they would shut up and let the man speak.

[theemurf]

Wat is the guy asking Terrence? I just cant hear him!!

[P3nanc3s]

He never stops to amaze me this man..

[WatchRyder]

3:20.

The look has it!

A wordsmith among wanderers!

[P3nanc3s]

Agreed =)

[Anthonytwinhearts]

wise words from a wise man.

[Gabeedmann]

All hale the counterculturist.

[luucduijm]

@Gabeedmann Really? Isn't that what should not be your conclusion? For people like McKenna; it's about thinking for yourself, making your own reality, ... Not being part of a group(!) that runs counter to the mainstream cultures!

[SynerJetics]

@Gabeedmann Inhale or exhale? Hail :-)

[ododidit]

This man knows!

[sillyvia13]

We need to open minds. Start with your own.

Listen to TM more often his words are so on point. I feel his rejoice will be held soon!

[ohwell121]

Give it!

[Alexcantsee]

IF middle-class America embraced this it would be a whole different story.

[EnoDude]

WOW I dont think i ever heard a better explanation

[EnoDude]

Damn!

[sk8h20]

you create your own culture, in your own reality and understanding of what is true to you as an artist of your own life. fuck religion,the churches, politics, its all blasphemy

[AEDDrummerG]

I'm not trying to piss anyone off- just saying. I don't see his logic. Is art not part of culture? He says culture produces false happiness. Who is to say what false happiness is? What happiness is? I agree with creating art- it's a wonderful part of being human. My problem is with how he claims art is the way to fight back against 'culture', but that makes everyone an artist, who will share their views and create their own culture. I'd honestly appreciate any respectable explanation.

[chin075]

If I may offer an explanation: TM is saying that OUR culture promotes false happiness. Culture isn't implicitly bad, but ours is spiritually dead, which is reflected in the dysfunction of our world. True happiness is an inner experience of the self but the happiness our culture promotes is false because it's materialistic and temporary. In a sense we're all artists because we're all creative beings. TM advocates self-creation rather than compliance with an imposed cultural paradigm

[AEDDrummerG]

Thank you. Truly.

[kevinkmny]

Incredibly insightful response. Well done!

[chin075]

Thank you both. We live in interesting times, and the difficult challenges we face as a species also afford us the opportunity for a monumental leap forward. Keep your eyes and minds open...

[777kru08]

excellent response!

[headfullofacid18]

@chin07 well said

[see19kay87]

This man is a genius.

[acausalakarmic]

This may be the most important video on YouTube.

[awindowinthewall]

Q: How do we fight back?

A: By creating art. . . .

Everyone should live by that

[goblins87]

the people who are there are really annoying. They would probably clap regardless of what he says. This guy should speak in front of people who don't know who he is, that would probably make more of a difference

[aaronmcyaesu]

A profound thinker who resonates with everyone`s inner profound thinker ...

[ohwell121]

it can also be good to take one out of his book and try to put everything so succicntly and simply as possible, these are simple straigthforward values actually. Its just the mass hallucination of complex culture here in the west that makes it seem so far out and contraintuitive. It took a while for me to let the true implications of this truly sink in. As the culture crisis deepens these people will finally start turning to ideas we have seeded and work from that. Since times are so fast now

[amiterisu]

Interesting stuff :)

[ohwell121]

lets get into this now:

x amount of people will suicide off the whatever bridge this year. Who that will be is unkown.

Therefore, a staggering amount of novelty will occur these last years before 2012, and possibly after too.

What that novelty will be is not decided. Lots of it will be new tech, some will be natural disaster; some political upheaval, of which archaic values may or may not take a large chunk of novelty. So spread your seeds well and we shall truly ride the wings of history!

[biirdonawire]

love this man. love his answer on how to "fight back".... art. real art cannot be created by machines, it is the opposite of what machines are made for (commands) and so it is the fighting force we have against the machine of modern society. imagination and love. expressing our divine gift of free will, which is a creative endeavor in itself. it is an expression of our divine selves which is connected to our most divine source. how can you get any closer on this gross material plane we inhabit?

[distressed7]

This is the truth. The truth is is that we, beginning with me, are passive recipients of bullshit. I stand with my yap open digesting the stuff of excrement. No more. The time for war hath begun. My "friends" are my enemies, and my "family" is my prison. My "government" is a devil and their world is a graveyard of pseudo-heroes and struggles that kill for gods who are never satisfied.

[ohwell121]

"My "friends" are my enemies, and my "family" is my prison"

In another talk he spoke about how to spread these ideals. Well, he never believed that we could fight the media so he said go and talk to your neighbors and friends and use art and whatever tools you have to spread these ideas because they are strong ideas and will spread like seeds and grow everywhere. Work from grassroots and up. So go talk to the people you know and introduce these values to them.

[domingoflores]

well 90% of that 6 billion don't even have access and lets not even get to the problem with languages, and how all americans think the entire world speaks english and the metric system doesn't exist

[ilikebuds]

I'm sure there are people who already know this who didn't watch this video.....the answers are inside.

[agustinco22]

one of the best of his visions, but what a shame that only 11,000 people of 6 billion have seen this video and know this

[silversobe]

Terence is a legend

[airtemplar]

Sigh... McKenna we fucking miss you man.

[narvinteek]

Great DVD.

[floevera]

i wish i was born abit before my time so i could've found a way to attend his gatherings, and proudly introduced myself to this man and tell him how much i think he contributes to this world through his teachings, personaly i find it a big shame his words and thoughts are not fully understood or accepted by a majority... he was a true visionary no doubt

[deroyale]

Don't ever doubt you were born the exact moment you needed to be. Also don't ever doubt yourself; you don't need to TELL him anything, he understood as I that this is a NATURAL cycle. You have come to learn from him; now go and teach what you've learned.

By teaching others we learn more ourself.

[WildChildAlienFilms]

SOOO VERY TRUE!!! What a Visionary!!! YES we can change the world one by one reject government media organized religion militaristic mindsets and evoke your BLISS!

[M0rrigan1]

I can agree with lots of what McKenna says. I have to question McKenna when he says that culture does not threat us well. Then compared to what? I am living a good life compared to my standards of how I look upon my reality. But I understand his points from an objective stand point. The teory and the practical way of how things works is 2 different worlds.

[netsurfer1212]

Wow, what a visionary. His views were very interesting. I was nodding, as I was watching this, just in total agreement, especially about the art. Any form of art, whether it be painting, theater, or music, betters our world, and expands our minds.

[jonh2o]

Anything to get away from the "How are you?" "Good, you?" "Good" "Great" attitude of communication.

[drpapa26]

Truly he was a hero of the imagination. There are too few people like McKenna left in this sorry excuse for a world.

[gomotionmedia]

ouch, let's try and hold onto a bit of optimism...there can be a shift?

[KillTheEmo]

He himself has said that optimism is a bad thing, it removes cognitive thought about the state you're in. To be positive all the time is to accept the rules given to you.

That said yes, there can be a shift. Though I think everybody visiting this video realizes what a monumental shift that would have to be to make a difference. There's a reason even a man of his intellegence made so little of an impact on the vast majority of the world.

[kukaipaa]

I have the DVD. Watched it many times. It's on eBay. It's nearly an hour & half long. Stunning. It's called

"Psychedelics in the Age of Intelligent Machines."

[bitchslapper2006]

This was his last rant before he died. I was in this crowd that night. he was a friend and I miss him. He was visionary and optimistic but he never skirted the issue of how much of a mess we're all really in.

[blueion]

agreed by a million percentile

[JohnSexton]

great man great mind,great vid

[rextangle]

Agreed... look around!

[Jackinla]

he's right, we are led by the least among

us -- culture is abusive...LOOK AROUND!