From Starman to Shaman

David Bramwell gives a talk exploring the shamanic roots of popular entertainment, tied to his book Ghosts of the Medicine Show.

David Bramwell presents a talk based on his book Ghosts of the Medicine Show: An Odyssey into the Shamanic Roots of Popular Entertainment. Inspired by a chance encounter with the book The Death and Resurrection Show and by the grief of losing his parents, he examines how twentieth- and twenty-first-century performers and celebrities took on shaman-like roles, with audiences acting as congregations in search of healing. The talk ranges across circuses, pantomimes, cinemas and music concerts, tracing shamanic showmanship in theatre, magic and rock'n'roll.