Art Nouveau design and historical characteristics

Art Noveau

Absinthe: Dangerous Drug or Artist's Tool

Used for healing, hallucination, and inspiration, absinthe, the potent alcoholic beverage made from the wormwood root, is now at the center of a social controversy that spans boarders -- should it be legal? In 2007, Paul Adams wrote in Wired Magazine that the "absinthe revival" had been in progress for upwards of a decade, but absinthe itself has been used since the late 1700s. Although the healing properties of wormwood had been realized, and used, even by the ancient Greeks, it was French Doctor Pierre Ordinaire who claimed to have invented it by fusing wormwood with other herbs and natural elements, although legend has it that it was really a group of folk medicine practicing sisters that gave him the secret ("The History of Absinthe"). Soon, the drink became famous, and by 1905 hundreds of companies were brewing it across France. Popularly, it was used as a medical cure, and many thought that it's high potency made it the cure for nearly any disease. It was also used during the French military efforts in Africa as a water purifier and a preventative medicine. When soldiers discovered the drink they began to enjoy it for the taste. Soon, absinthe became part of the French bohemian culture; it was associated with the cafe scenes and influenced such artists as Van Gough and Marilyn Manson ("The History of Absinthe"; Adams).

Despite its popularity and importance in French culture, Absinthe was eventually banned in a variety of cultures. Some of the reasons for this include the 20th century temperance movement, which used absinthe as a "scapegoat for all alcohol" ("The History of Absinthe"). Another reason that the beverage was banned was the fact that it contained thujone, which was proven to be a neurotoxin in large amounts. Pressure from wine sellers, rumors, and bad press were other reasons that the liquor was banned, and continued to be banned in many European countries ("The History of Absinthe"). In the United States, however, certain types of the liquor is legal, such as that developed by Ted Breaux without thujone. Breaux's development proved that thujone was not the ingredient that caused hallucinations in the drink (Adams).

Despite the legal issues surrounding its use, absinthe as a tool for inspiration is a topic yearning for much discussion. The Parisian artists such as Van Gough that used absinthe for inspiration no doubt thought that their creativity was a result of the hallucinations that it inspired. Marilyn Manson even developed his own brand of Absinthe, which can be purchased online. Other than Manson, modern artists such as Trash Wednesday have produced songs about or inspired by the drink. Trash Wednesday's album is even called "Absinthe Mind" ("Trash Wednesday"). Is the fact that the drug is so overtly referenced as an inspiration for art and music by both modern artists and artists of the past feeding into a culture of acceptance regarding mind-altering substances? Some would suggest that this is true, while others would argue that the use of such substances does indeed influence creativity, and is acceptable. Regardless, one must admit that the circumstances surrounding the banning of absinthe are controversial at best. In an era where alcohol and other drugs were often used for recreational and medicinal purposes, the fact that absinthe was banned seems out of the ordinary. In addition, the fact that such regulations, even with their suspicious history, are still used today is even more perplexing. Absinthe is a potent drink, one for which a multitude of uses were developed. While the question as to legalization must be carefully reconsidered, it is irresponsible not to at least visit the topic once again.