Ken Kesey
Nacimiento : 1935-09-17, La Junta, Colorado, USA
Muerte : 2001-11-10
Historia
Ken Kesey (/ˈkiːziː/) fue un escritor estadounidense.
Ken Kesey pasó gran parte de su juventud en Springfield, Oregón, pues se trasladó allí junto a su familia. Dejó los estudios para fugarse con su novia, Faye Haxby, con la cual tuvo tres hijos: Jed, Zane y Shannon. Más tarde tuvo una hija con una compañera de las comunas hippies, Carolyn Adams. Estudió periodismo en la universidad de Oregón.
Alcanzó la notoriedad con su primera novela, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, basada en buena medida en sus vivencias como voluntario ("cobaya humana") en los experimentos con drogas psicotrópicas del Gobierno estadounidense en Menlo Park a fines de los 50s. Kesey conoció de este modo la LSD, sustancia psicoactiva que transformó profundamente su percepción de la realidad social y personal. A partir de 1964, él y un grupo de amigos, The Merry Pranksters o los "Alegres Bromistas", fueron pioneros en la experimentación lúdica y espiritual con LSD y marihuana. A bordo de un autobús pintado con colores fluorescentes que llamaron "Further" ("Más Allá"), los Pranksters recorrieron Estados Unidos y fueron estableciendo gradualmente muchos de los elementos retóricos y visuales que después popularizó (y, a juicio de Kesey, trivializó) el movimiento hippie. En esta tarea contaron con la colaboración del grupo Grateful Dead, que acompañaba con sus improvisaciones de música psicodélica las sesiones abiertas de consumo de LSD (Acid Tests) organizadas por Kesey. Durante algún tiempo Kesey y Timothy Leary representaron dos enfoques complementarios de la naciente Contracultura: irreverente e imprevisible el de Kesey, ritualizado y mesiánico el de Leary. Así, mientras Leary, que provenía de un ambiente científico universitario, buscaba inspiración para los viajes de LSD en textos exóticos y prestigiosos como el Libro Tibetano de los Muertos. Kesey, autodidacta, prefería inspirarse en la cultura pop norteamericana (cómic, ciencia-ficción y rock'n roll).
A finales de la década, la persecución policial y el cansancio por la repetición de las mismas fórmulas expresivas, que comenzaban a anquilosarse, llevaron a Kesey a dar por superada la experimentación con drogas. A pesar de eso, permaneció hasta su muerte como uno de las figuras emblemáticas del underground contestatario norteamericano. Uno de sus últimos trabajos fue un ensayo sobre la paz para Rolling Stone.
El periodista Tom Wolfe popularizó en 1968 las experiencias de Kesey y los Pranksters con su libro The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (publicado en España como Gaseosa de Ácido Eléctrico o Ponche de ácido lisérgico). No obstante, Kesey nunca dio su aprobación a la visión de Wolfe, que consideraba superficial y ajena al espíritu de los hechos.
An associative view of the days, nights and characters that enclosed the life of Arthur Janov, which defines in the conclusion "It's never too late to have a happy childhood". Arthur Janov (1924-2017) was a classic instance of being the right charismatic therapist at the right time - the zeitgeist. Dr. Janov first heard about the embryo to the primal scream through one of his patients when he performed conventional psycho dynamic therapy. It was an absurd theatre performance by Raphael Montañez Ortiz called "Mommy, Daddy" presented in London, 1966. The birth of Primal therapy happened when Arthur Janov's book, "The Primal Scream" was published early 1970.
Self/Archive Footage
Ken Kesey (1935 - 2001) is one of the best-known authors to ever emerge from Oregon. He wrote his two most-acclaimed novels, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) and Sometimes a Great Notion (1964), when still in his twenties. In his passing, Ken Kesey left behind plenty of good things to read. He convinced countless thousands of people to open the door to new experiences and "new ways to think." He, the Pranksters and the Bus made their own unique marks on popular culture. In this segment, we asked members of his family about his legacy.
words and recordings
A freewheeling portrait of Ken Kesey and the Merry Prankster’s fabled road trip across America in the legendary Magic Bus. In 1964, Ken Kesey, the famed author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” set off on a legendary, LSD-fuelled cross-country road trip to the New York World’s Fair. He was joined by “The Merry Band of Pranksters,” a renegade group of counterculture truth-seekers, including Neal Cassady, the American icon immortalized in Kerouac’s “On the Road,” and the driver and painter of the psychedelic Magic Bus.
Himself (archive footage)
Plant Explorer Richard Evans Schultes was a real life Indiana Jones whose discoveries of hallucinogenic plants laid the foundation for the psychedelic sixties. Now in this two hour History Channel TV Special, his former student Wade Davis, follows in his footsteps to experience the discoveries that Schultes brought to the western world. Shot around the planet, from Canada to the Amazon, we experience rarely seen native hallucinogenic ceremonies and find out the true events leading up to the Psychedelic Sixties. Featuring author/adventurer Wade Davis ("Serpent and the Rainbow"), Dr. Andrew Weil, the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir and many others, this program tells the story of the discovery of peyote, magic mushrooms and beyond: one man's little known quest to classify the Plants of the Gods. Richard Evans Schultes revolutionized science and spawned another revolution he never imagined.
Himself (archive footage)
The 1960's and 1970's were a time of change, a time of revolution, a time of the Hippies. Hippies reached across the nation and their effects are still felt today.
Himself
"Go Further" explota la idea de que un individuo es la clave para las transformaciones en gran escala. La película sigue al actor Woody Harrelson mientras lleva a un pequeño grupo de amigos a un viaje a través de la Costa del Pacífico en un micro que funciona con biocarburante. La meta es mostrarle a la gente que se cruzan que hay otras alternativas de vida más allá de nuestro comportamiento habitual, destructivo para el medio ambiente.
Director
A film by Ken Kesey
Self
A look at the life and influence of acclaimed sixties writer Ken Kesey. Features archive footage of his 1964 Magic Bus Tour with The Merry Pranksters.
Self
Traces the Beats from Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac's meeting in 1944 at Columbia University to the deaths of Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs in 1997. Three actors provide dramatic interpretations of the work of these three writers, and the film chronicles their friendships, their arrival into American consciousness, their travels, frequent parodies, Kerouac's death, and Ginsberg's politicization. Their movement connects with bebop, John Cage's music, abstract expressionism, and living theater. In recent interviews, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey, Ferlinghetti, Mailer, Jerry Garcia, Tom Hayden, Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, and others measure the Beats' meaning and impact.
Himself
Behind the scenes interviews for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Narrator
Pre embodied the spirit of athletic excellence. He had a belief in self and sport that transcended all but the outer reaches of human speed and endurance. As a freshman, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which hailed him as "America's Distance Prodigy". By the time he died in a tragic auto accident at the age of 24, Pre held all 7 American records between 2,000 and 10,000 meters. Off the track, he fought relentlessly for the rights of amateur athletes to prosper for their sacrifices. Narrated by Ken Kesey, Fire On the Track is the story of this young lion's life, as told through rare footage and the memories of those who knew him best - his teammates, coaches, family and friends. Interviews include David Bedford, Frank Shorter, Ian Stewart, Bill Bowerman, Jeff Galloway, Dick Buerkle, Lasse Viren, Dana Carvey, Mac Wilkins, Kenny Moore, Dave Wottle, Alberto Salazar, and many more.
Sissy's Daddy
Sissy Hankshaw nació con unos enormes pulgares en sus manos que le han ayudado a hacer autoestop a lo largo del país desde su más tierna infancia. Se convierte en modelo de agencia, y su agente de Nueva York "la Condesa" le consigue un trabajo para rodar un spot en un rancho donde entabla amistad con Bonanza Jellybean. Terminan ocupando el rancho y la policía interviene.
Himself
This refreshingly frank and impartial study of the discovery and development of the notorious hallucinogenic drug is notably free of moral judgmental, and features contributions from such legendary heroes of psychedelia as Albert Hoffman - the Swiss scientist who discovered the drug - Aldous Huxley - author of 'The Doors of Perception' - Ken Kesey - author of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Writer
"Conditions" - The improvisation-based performance was inspired by psychiatrists such as RD Laing (Family and Madness) and J. Foudraine (Who is of wood). The Werkteater played this performance 'in the den of the lion': in psychiatric institutions for patients and carers. This led to very intensive and adventurous performances in which 'a lot' always happened. Afterwards the discussions sometimes ran high, but even during the performance the audience sometimes mixed themselves in the scenes.
Self
Made in 1976, TVTV's close-up look at Hollywood's annual awards ritual mixes irreverent documentary with deadpan comedy. TVTV's cameras go behind the scenes to follow major Hollywood figures (including Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, Lee Grant, Jack Nicholson, and many others), capturing them in candid moments—inside their limousines, dressing for the ceremony, backstage at the awards.
Novel
Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), un violador de espíritu libre, que vive contracorriente, es recluido en un hospital psiquiátrico. La inflexible disciplina del centro acentúa su contagiosa tendencia al desorden, que acabará desencadenando una guerra entre los pacientes y el personal de la clínica con la fría y severa enfermera Ratched (Louise Fletcher) a la cabeza. La suerte de cada paciente del pabellón está en juego.
Novel
Hank Stamper y su padre, Henry, son dueños y operan el negocio familiar cortando y enviando troncos en Oregón. La ciudad está furiosa cuando continúan trabajando a pesar de que la ciudad está en quiebra y los otros madereros se declaran en huelga y ordenan a los Stampers que se detengan, sin embargo, Hank continúa presionando a su familia para que corte más árboles. La esposa de Hank desea que se detenga y espera que puedan pasar más tiempo juntos. Cuando el medio hermano de Hank, Leland, viene a trabajar para ellos, comienzan más problemas.
Director
Sound and image captured by the Merry Pranksters in late 1965 and early 1966: the bus on the road, the Grateful Dead playing an Acid Test, Kool-Aid ritual, etc.
Sound and image captured by the Merry Pranksters in late 1965 and early 1966: the bus on the road, the Grateful Dead playing an Acid Test, Kool-Aid ritual, etc.
