Alice poster by Cathy Hill and Steve Sachs from 1968

Cathy Hill and Steve Sachs

 

In the 1960s, Alice in Wonderland was reinterpreted through the lens of psychedelic culture, largely due to the influence of the song "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. The song, released in 1967, explicitly connected Alice with drug use, referencing elements from the book like the White Rabbit and Alice's journey. This connection made Alice a mascot of the 60s counterculture, associating her with the psychedelic experience, particularly LSD.

Psychedelic posters of Alice from this era often featured vibrant colors, surreal patterns, and imagery that mirrored the idea of a "mind trip," aligning with the distorted realities in the story. Elements like the caterpillar smoking a hookah, the mushrooms that change Alice’s size, and the "Eat Me" cake became symbols of the effects of hallucinogens.

While there's no evidence that Lewis Carroll intended these references, the psychedelic interpretation became a significant cultural reading of the story. Alice’s journey through Wonderland was seen as analogous to a drug trip, making the character an enduring icon of the 1960s and 70s counterculture, with its focus on breaking conventions and exploring altered states of consciousness.

 

Thanks to Alan Tannenbaum, who sent me the pictures.