Drug, religion and culture: mapping the public controversy concerning the use of ayahuasca in Brazil

• Grant number: 10/04228-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2010
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Anthropology
• Principal Investigator: Paula Montero
• Grantee: Henrique Fernandes Antunes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The scope of this research is to map the public controversy concerning the use o ayahuasca. First, I focus on the academic literature and the ways which the history of ayahuasca is covered over three decades of debate. Then I explore a wide documental universe - which includes academic productions, media, public policy, institutional documents of ayahuasca entities and productions of members of those institutions - to develop a map of the public controversy concerning ayahuasca in Brazil and its aftermath. Finally, based on an ethnographic study, conducted at Centro Pronto Socorro Espiritual Raimundo Irineu Serra, I analyze the forms of presentation, justification of practices and the construction of legitimacy in the public space of an institution that makes use of ayahuasca. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ANTUNES, Henrique Fernandes. Drugs, religion and culture: a mapping of public controversy concerning the use of ayahuasca in Brazil. 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.