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Are Emotional Issues an advantage to artists?
Posted by ArsenicCookies • 4/16/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: affliction, muse, turmoil
I have often wondered if having some sort of inner turmoil was the best muse for the creative types. From painters to poets, and musicians to actors, I have noticed that the very best of the best were often suffering from one "demon" or another, be it alcoholism, trauma, bipolar disorder and so on.
Do you think that these issues unleash a type of art that others can relate to on a deeper level?
Does it help or hurt to have these types of issues.
For me personally, the best work I do is when I am struggling with something. Be it writing (my nov 07 stuff) or acting, there seems to be a raw power behind it.
Any other thoughts?
(here is a list of some high profile types who excelled either in spite of or as a result of such struggles drdeborahserani.blogspot.com/2005/08/in-good-company.html)
User Comments
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they are a necessary precondition. The crazies always come up with the best stuff.-
it would seem so. Poe is still a favorite of mine, and Robin William's bipolar disorder has made him able to play anything with flying colors
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I suffer from the crazy disease (PTSD) and I would like to think it helps my writing. The real literature crap not my stupid blog about food stuffs.
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Absolutely - I could never write as I do without the constant angst going on in my life.-
makes sense, when I am down my writing is top notch, everyother time... not so much haha
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For many years chaos & turmoil completely fueled my art. Once my life settled down & got more "sane" the artistic urge vanished completely. It took me many years & some difficult adjustments to get back into it again (coming now from a different angle.)
That's just me, though.-
thats commendable that you were able to rediscover your muse, many who start that way fade.. I always found that to be a terrible tragedy
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It's hard to say about actual statistics.
But from a general impression, I know on more than one occasion I've thought, "Wow, he/she is an amazing actor, but BOY does he/she have personal problems!" There certainly seems to be some overlap.
Whether it's the problems fueling the creativity, or the creativity being almost too much to manage and helping fuel problems, though, I don't know.-
very good points, it is hard to define where the line falls
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Nope,not necessary. I swear! honest, really!
ACtually the funniest thing is when people see some of my, well most of my work, and think I must be totally bonkers and then are shocked to find I am the most put together person they ever imagined.
THere are a gazillion artists whose work is very powerful and yet they lead normal happy lives, it is only because a few get into the news for having problems that one gets the impression that one must have inner turmoil to create.-
nice to see the other side of it. It is sheer talent to be great in any light
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I also know some artists who do face emotional turmoil and they are so messed up they don't create anything, and when they do it isn't particularly good.
It just isn't a prerequisite in my book and gives people a false idea about what it takes to be creative.
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Well, most sober and/or happy writers bore me tears.-
I have noticed that as well, same thing with song writers
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I guess it is a matter of perception and who you hang around with. I find drunk misery guts to be be bloody raging bores, the one's I have worked with or met are so self absorbed and miserable to be around.
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There's actually a book about the self-destructive impulses of female artists. It's called Live Through This. I really recommend it.-
oh was that Courtney's book?
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It's called an artistic temperament for a reason. -
Romantic notions of the starving artist are over rated in this day and age... great talent and thought process occur amongst the sane too. Not sure about actors though...-
Yeah I supposed I kind of covered everyone in the term artist, I think with acting it is a hands down advantage, since it allows the thespian to relate to many roles. Interesting to see the varying opinions on this topic.
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From my way of thinking I would say there is no art without emotion surely the whole concept of art is the idea of trying to capture emotions.-
well said
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Don't call me emotional pink skin, or I might do a nasty embroidery piece about you too.
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Lavender! You Geordie hag!
You should do an embroidery piece on me there is a distinct lack of lavender Aardvarks in contemporary art. -
How dare you call me a hag you lavender poo brain with one ball and sucks termites.
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I believe there is art devoid of emotion. Realist create art where the aesthetic quality is absolute. There's no need for any type of human emotion or views necessary to create something beautiful. Remember, art of any form is subjective. For me personally, when too much is going on, I shut down and won't create anything at all. Now, that's not to say I don't have my quirks, but I don't feel they are necessary or even helpful all of the time.
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A few great writers also opposed their artistic prowess to a philosophical quest - like Emile Cioran. It seems to be a dialectic.-
Dialogues are easier if you could talk to yourself.
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I do believe the fact that I am a fruitcake helps aid the quality of my writing.
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I think creating can be a kind of therapy and so, when we are feeling not so great, we get into the artistic mood which has a medicating/soothing effect.
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