OCZYSZCZAJĄC DRZWI PERCEPCJI. SZKIC O IDEI IMAGINACJI W ROMANTYZMIE, KONTRKULTURZE I NEW AGE
CLEANSING THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION. A SKETCH ON THE IDEA OF IMAGINATION IN ROMANTICISM, COUNTERCULTURE AND NEW AGE

Summary/Abstract: The main thesis presented in this study is the statement on the exceptional role of the idea of imagination in the development of romantic spirituality, which finds its continuation in the spirituality of counterculture and New Age (the existence of relations between Romanticism and New Age has been discussed by Hans Sebald, Paul Heelas or Wouter Hanegraaff). The significance of the idea of imagination for Romanticism was particulary focused on by Rene Wellek. Romanticism is treated by the author as a period in which deep re-interpretation of the Western esoteric tradition. Reffering mainly to William Blake's works, the author briefly characterizes the romantic understanding of imagination. Special attention is paid to the significance of Blake for counterculture and New Age. His works were invoked by the "prophets" od counterculture - Aldous Huxley or Theodore Roszak, and the name of such an important for counterculture music band as "The Doors" was borrowed from Huxley's work "The Doors of Perception". Tracing the history of the idea of imagination on counterculture and New Age, due attention is drawn to the process of banalization to which this idea was subjected along with its introduction into pop culture.

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