This is a companion text to the ethnographic documentary Ronin, Plants & Dreamsfilmed among the indigenous Shipibo people of the Peruvian Amazonia. Artisanswithin this community drink the juice of the medicinal plant kene huaste with thehope of dreaming with Ronin - a powerful being who teaches them in the art ofpainting geometric patterns. Ronin lives in the lakes and lagoons near Shipibovillages and appears to Shipibo as a fearful serpent in waking life, but as aknowledgeable human to be learned from in dreams and visions. The film is anexploration in the theme of dreaming with Ronin and follows an artisan's search fordesigns. The companion text contextualises the film by introducing ethnographicliterature on indigenous Amazonia, as well as my own fieldwork experiences. It alsoreflects on the process of making the film and discusses how ethnographicknowledge is created and communicated.
- Geometric designs, dreams, artisans, medicinal plants, Ronin, Shipibo, Amazonia, Peru.
Ronin, Plants & Dreams
González, M. (Author). 1 Aug 2013
Student thesis: Master of Philosophy