Drawing Down The Moon: A Cinematic Exploration of Shamanic Practices in Europe

In an era increasingly defined by globalization and cultural homogenization, shamanism persists as one of the most ancient spiritual traditions of humanity. Recent anthropological research has re-examined its significance, identifying it as a crucial framework for exploring otherness and pluralism, particularly in the reconsideration of human and non-human relationships. Yet, despite this renewed scholarly attention, shamanic practices remain vulnerable—threatened by processes of global integration, persistent misconceptions, and reductive forms of representation.

Against this backdrop, I propose the development of an original, film-based research project dedicated to giving voice to underrepresented shamanic practices in Europe. The aim is to critically assess shamanism as a mediating paradigm capable of challenging dominant anthropocentric perspectives of the Anthropocene. Through artistic production, the project seeks to generate new forms of knowledge, awareness, and resilience by examining how shamanic practices shape both individual and collective identities.

By crossing disciplinary boundaries and dissolving conventional distinctions between film, anthropology, and sensorial ethnography, the research will foster a renewed understanding of shamanic worldviews while amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals and communities. The outcomes will include a trilogy of experimental films, conceived as a multiscreen installation, a series of scholarly essays, and a related publication. Dissemination will occur through a diversified outreach strategy encompassing digital and print media, exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and seminars.