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Creativity and Mental Illness
Men have called me mad, but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence--whether much that is glorious--whether all that is profound--does not spring from disease of thought--from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect. Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night - Edgar Allen Poe
When you are insane, you are busy being insane - all the time... When I was crazy, that's all I was. - Sylvia Plath
Is creative genius somehow woven together with "madness"? According to the dictionary, "to create" is "to bring into being or form out of nothing." Such a powerful, mysterious, and even impossible act must surely be beyond the scope of scientific inquiry! No wonder creativity has for so long been "explained" as the expression of an irrational, intuitive psychic "underground" teaming with forces (perhaps divine) that are unknown and unknowable (at least to the "sane," conventional mind). The ancient Greeks believed creative inspiration was achieved through altered states of mind such as "divine madness." Socrates said: "If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the inspired madman" (8). Creative inspiration - particularly artistic inspiration -- has often been thought to require the sampling of dark "depths" of irrationality while maintaining at least some connection to everyday reality. This dive into underground forces "reminds one of a skin-diver with a breathing tube" wrote Arthur Koestler in his influential book...
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...ard Mental Health Letter, March 1996
http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p5h-cre1.html
6) Artistic Inspiration and the Brain , Another response to Dr. Bruce Miller study - FTD & creativity
http://www.artsfusion.com/1999/january/awfeaturejan.html
7) The Systems View of Life , includes discussion of how creativity is fundamentally built into all living systems -by Fritjof Capra, theoretical high-energy physicist and author. Capra studied with Werner Heisenberg at the University of Vienna. He does research at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and lectures at the University of California, Berkeley.
http://magna.com.au/~prfbrown/capra_3.html
8) Amazon.com, To order the book: Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic temperment - by Kay Redfield Jamison
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068483183X/themeadowlarkpre/102-1781957-3733743
Madness, madness, madness. It is but a word, yet those who possess it are capable of doing the most amazing or terrible of things. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, madness is defined as “a state of severe mental illness.” Perry Edward Smith is the best individual to depict this characteristic. Throughout Truman Capote's novel “In Cold Blood” the main character, Perry Smith, as Dr. Jones says “. shows definite signs of severe mental illness” (Capote 296).
There is a major argument among literary critics whether Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is or is not a racist novel. The question boils down to the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and to the way he is treated by Huck and others. In the 1950s the effort to banish The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from required classroom reading lists came publicly to the floor again, not chiefly on the grounds that its depiction of black characters and the use of the word “nigger” were demeaning to African-American students. Many feel that Twain uses the word too loosely. However, many believe that Huck Finn should be taught in schools on the grounds that the novel’s racist theme accurately depicted what life was like for a slave in pre- Civil War times.
Mark Twain’s book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, educates high school students on how the Southern society operated at that time. When analyzing the novel, one can see that Twain’s writing clearly does not endorse slavery or the use of derogatory language toward African-Americans. In a petition to remove this book from a high school required reading list, a school board in New Jersey concluded, "the literary value of the book outweighed the negative aspect of the language employed.” (2) Huckleberry Finn is a satirical novel that was written to show the flaws of 19th century American society. It shows how people thought and acted back then, and points out what was wrong with the white supremacy mindset of many Southerners during these years. “The book itself is a great testament that...
Where is the line drawn between a genius and a madman? The more one delves into the works of Edgar Allen Poe, the more the line seems to blur. Any reader, if they examine a number of Poe 's pieces, will observe a reoccurring theme; throughout his works, there is a similar element of death and macabre. However, despite the depravity and misfortune in his works and his life, Edgar Allen Poe was perhaps the most prominent and profound authors of his time, and he is highly regarded for his intricate poetry and horrifying stories that have both captured and enthralled readers for ages. Edgar Allen Poe used his literary works to alleviate the stress of his own reality. In The Black Cat and Annabel Lee,
What is madness? Is madness a brain disorder or a chemical imbalance? On the other hand, is it an expressed behavior that is far different from what society would believe is "normal"? Lawrence Durrell addresses these questions when he explores society's response to madness in his short story pair "Zero and Asylum in the Snow," which resembles the nearly incoherent ramblings of a madman. In these stories, Durrell portrays how sane, or lucid, people cannot grasp and understand the concept of madness. This inability to understand madness leads society to fear behavior that is different from "normal," and subsequently, this fear dictates how they deal with it. These responses include putting a name to what they fear and locking it up in an effort to control it. Underlying all, however, Durrell repeatedly raises the question: who should define what is mad?
Langston Hughes is considered by many readers to be the most significant black poet of the twentieth century. He is described as ³...the beloved author of poems steeped in the richness of African American culture, poems that exude Hughes¹s affection for black Americans across all divisions of region, class, and gender.² (Rampersad 3) His writing was both depressing and uplifting at times. His poetry, spanning five decades from 1926 to 1967, reflected the changing black experience in America, from the Harlem Renaissance to the turbulent sixties. At the beginning of his career, he was surrounded by the Harlem Renaissance. New York City in the 1920¹s was a place of immense growth and richness in African-American culture and art. For Hughes, this was the perfect opportunity to establish his poems. His early work reflects the happy times of the era. However, as time progressed he became increasingly bitter and upset over race relations. Except for a few examples, all his poems from this later period spoke about social injustice in America. The somber tone of his writing often reflected his mood. Race relations was the shadow of his career, following him from his first poem to his last. The tone and subject matter of Hughes¹s poetry can be linked to certain points in history, and his life. The youth of Hughes is brought out by his poem ³Harlem Night Club², a piece which describes living in the moment. Often children do not consider the consequences of their actions; they act on instinct and desire. Hughes might have been 27 when he wrote this poem, but the feisty, upbeat tempo of a school boy is present in his style. ³Harlem Night Club² is unique in that it describes the integration of blacks and whites in an optimistic tone. The vigor and spirit of his youth is reflected in the energy of the writing, ³Jazz-band, jazz-band, / Play, plAY, PLAY! / Tomorrow....who knows? / Dance today!² The repetition of the words, and the increasing emphasis on the word ³play² bring out the excitement to the reader. More evidence of Hughes¹s youth comes from the very focus of the poem: the interracial couples. The entire poem can be summed up as ³...a single-glance tableau of interracial flirtation against a background of heady jazz.² (Emanuel 120) This festive relationship between the two sexes can rarely be seen in any of Hughes¹s later poems. At th...
In conclusion, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, although very controversial, is a novel where learning is inevitable. Whether it be learning from the overall message that the beautifully crafted story promotes for others, or discovering all of Twain's indirect lessons taught, it is a very prestigious piece of literature. Although many of the novel's critics base their ideas solely on Twain’s diction incorporated, most specifically his use of the word “nigger,” the novel does not become any less valuable. The meaning and purpose behind all of Twain's choices withheld in it, only reveal truths and openness concerning America, what it used to be back in the 1800s, and what it is now. Therefore, if it is to be taught in schools, it should
History shows that signs of mental illness and abnormal behavior have been documented as far back as the early Greeks however, it was not viewed the same as it is today. The mentally ill were previously referred to as mad, insane, lunatics, or maniacs. W.B. Maher and B.A. Maher (1985) note how many of the terms use had roots in old English words that meant emotionally deranged, hurt, unhealthy, or diseased. Although early explanations were not accurate, the characteristics of the mentally ill have remained the same and these characteristics are used to diagnose disorders to date. Cultural norms have always been used to assess and define abnormal behavior. Currently, we have a decent understanding of the correlates and influences of mental illness. Although we do not have complete knowledge, psychopathologists have better resources, technology, and overall research skills than those in ancient times.
In Emily Dickinson’s poem “Much Madness is Divinest Sense 435” it is mostly known for “Madness” because it is actually the most close thing to sanity which is view by someone who is discriminating someone else. Which sanity is a mental health were you behave not so good. In Walt Whitman’s poem “When I Heard The Learn’d Astronomer” is where he sees proofs and different kinds of things before the actual astronaut does. These two famous poets are two different persons.
Thankfully I have worked for more employers who have, for the most part, gotten the psychological contract right. I am an extremely engaged employee. I always say “ I work like I own the place”. Do not misunderstand, I am no Miss Goody Two Shoes but I work very hard to uphold my end of the psychological contract. Therefore, after working overtime for the majority of a fiscal year, taking on special projects (notice the “s” at the end and I was actually appointed by company execs to a couple of projects ) and then consistently demonstrating that my worth,
“Sanity may be madness, but the maddest of all is to see life as it is not as it should be.” Don Quixote.
Throughout this paper I will discuss ways in which the life of Langston Hughes influenced his writing style and use of symbolism in his poetry, including “Mother to Son” and “Cross.” Langston Hughes enjoys providing an abundance of “twoness” and or duality into his poems. While writing Hughes captures the art and culture of African Americans, race and segregation related issues. Also including, imagery, allusions, ambiguity, irony and a seperation of the speaker and poet. Through Langston's poems his includes symbolism to provide us with his personal thoughts and feelings about what him and his fellow African Americans have to go through just to become equal and free. Hughes did not only write poems, he also participated in several other
In many of Hughes’ works, he gives advice for those who are suffering from racism and isolationism, which is to not let anything get in the way of dreams. This idea is expressed in Hughes’ poem titled “Mother to Son”. In the poem, Hughes states, “ . . . don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps” (Baym, 2013, p. 1039). This quote shows how many people that were affected by the racism and isolationism would turn to giving up on almost everything in their lives, but Hughes gives advice to those who wanted to give up by saying to never give up. Hughes wanted the society to know that they shouldn’t let the racism affect their lives, but to ignore the racism and to keep moving forward. In his novel, Not Without Laughter, Hughes says, “Ever’thing there is but lovin’ leaves a rust on yo’ soul. An’ to love sho’nough, you got to have a spot in yo’ heart fo’ ever’body - great an’ small, white an’ black, an’ them what’s good an’ them what’s evil - ‘cause love ain’t got not crowded-out places where de good ones stay an’ de bad ones can’t come in. When it gets that way, then it ain’t love” (“8 quotes to celebrate Langston Hughes on his 113th birthday”, 2015). This quote shows how Hughes expressed in his works how the society was harshly affected by the racism and isolationism, and how the society should not let the racism get them down. Hughes also explains how no matter how badly society was affected by the racism, every person in the society should always show care and respect for
The link between creativity and mental illnesses is a topic that has been debated for centuries. The great philosophers Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle all discussed the connection as well. Even in today’s society, there is an ever-present stereotype that creative individuals (i.e. poets, writers, artists, designers, etc.) suffer from bouts of depression, mania, or mental illnesses. It is an age-old question: does depression/mania effect creativity? There is a lot of evidence that both supports and denies the truth behind this question. Some researchers believe the link between depression and creativity is strictly genetic while others believe there is none at all. The argument for this discussion will mostly support the argument that creativity is absolutely a result, cause, and remedy of mania. The manic-depressive illnesses discussed in this debate will mostly include bipolar disorder, mania, and depression. However, there are a lot of factors that play a role in this debate. To discuss, we must first define creativity, the creative process, manic-depressive illnesses, and rumination.
Madness is defined as a state of severe mental illness. It is seen as how you think and/or act with another person or thing. In Plato’s Phaedrus, Socrates, while saying his Great Speech, lists two types of madness and four types of “divine madness.” In this speech, he establishes many different thoughts and beliefs. One of the most important statements Socrates claimed is that madness is shown to be of utmost importance in life. We have all experienced different types of madness in our lives. Of course no human being is the same so the affects and reactions vary. I believe that if we do not have madness in our lives then our lives would be boring. There would be no passion and no excitement. It is sometimes nice to have something different