THE HOMUNCULUS - Alchemy & Artificial Life with Brian Cotnoir

The Homunculus is an artificially created rational being or human. After briefly outlining some very basic alchemical ideas and medieval theories of reproduction we will look at how these ideas were put into practice by examining the 13th century Liber Vaccae (Book of the Cow) a collection of, as one scholar said, “elaborate experiments in unseemly generation and obstetrics.” The homunculus is mentioned again by the 15th century alchemist Paracelsus who, alluding to the secrets of the philosophers, reveals the method of making a homunculus and its talismanic use, which will again be revealed in tonight’s talk. $15 entry Brian Cotnoir is an alchemist, artist and award-winning filmmaker. Author of The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy, the Emerald Tablet, Alchemical Meditations, and On the Quintessence of Wine, he is currently writing his next book, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter. He has presented seminars and workshops around the world on various aspects of the art.