Art Noveau Absinthe: Dangerous Drug Essay

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.

Works Cited

Adams, Paul. "Barely Legal: American Absinthe Passes the Taste Test." Wired. 19 July

2007. 12 April 2009.

"The History of Absinthe." Liqueurs de France. n.d. 12 April 2009.



"Trash Wednesday." CD Baby. 2006. 12 April 2009.