High weirdness by mail
The joy of receiving strange and unusual items in the mail! "High Weirdness by Mail" was a popular phenomenon in the 1980s and 1990s, where people would send and receive bizarre, often surreal, and sometimes disturbing items through the mail. This phenomenon was fueled by the rise of the internet and the ease of sending and receiving mail.
The term "High Weirdness" was coined by writer and artist, Robert Anton Wilson, to describe the strange and unusual experiences that people would have when receiving these items. The term has since been adopted to describe the entire phenomenon of receiving unusual and often inexplicable items in the mail.
Some examples of the types of items that people would send and receive during this time include:
- Strange and disturbing artwork, such as paintings or sculptures that were meant to be unsettling or thought-provoking.
- Unusual and exotic items, such as taxidermied animals, antique medical equipment, or other oddities.
- Bizarre and often humorous items, such as rubber chickens, whoopee cushions, or other novelty items.
- Cryptic messages and puzzles, such as cryptograms, anagrams, or other forms of encoded communication.
- Unusual and often disturbing items, such as medical specimens, anatomical models, or other items that were meant to be unsettling or thought-provoking.
The High Weirdness by Mail phenomenon was often associated with the underground art and music scenes, as well as with the counterculture movement. It was seen as a way for people to connect with others who shared similar interests and tastes, and to experience the thrill of the unknown and the unexpected.
Today, the High Weirdness by Mail phenomenon has largely faded away, replaced by the rise of social media and other forms of digital communication. However, the spirit of High Weirdness lives on, and many people still enjoy sending and receiving unusual and unexpected items through the mail.