Where is the line between insanity and creativity?
By Jen
@polyxena (2628)
Sturgis, Michigan
April 17, 2016 8:50pm CST
Read the question, and immediately thought, "I know where the line divides," but then the logical half of me told me, "No that's not remotely close," because I remembered Stephen King saying that everyone's crazy, and the people outside of the asylum hide it better.
When I write, and with my better writing, I really don't think, I'm ever in the right mind, if I am, it's almost impossible to think that I was. When I write, and write something good, I lose a piece of myself, if not a little more than I should lose.
All of the better writers, and artists I know all were a bit ill. Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allan Poe, and even Van Gogh had some insane characteristics. Where does insanity begin and creativity end.
Can one truly be sane when they can dictate what they feel on a piece of paper, or on the internet, just to provoke emotion, as I'm told good art does. We know it provokes emotion, either hatred, envy, or astonishment.
After all of of the thoughts I don't think there is an actual answer to where you draw the line, or anyone else can draw the line.
Question Taken from: operation meditation
5 people like this
5 responses
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
18 Apr 16
II suspect this is a question which will never be answered. Van Gogh was arguably insane but the way he recorded all his work through letters to his brother which could be argued as a sign of complete sanity. The line is very fine indeed and traces a very peculiar course.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
18 Apr 16
Mine have no line to separate them. Insanity and creativity go hand in hand. It all depends where you channel the energies and how it affects your mental state when all is said and done.
If people went into my head without a guide they'd be driven insane. It's a nightmare world in there. It's also home to wondrous realms of pure creativity.
2 people like this
@quickinstinct (432)
• United States
18 Apr 16
A fine line perhaps.
It depends on the person, on their ability to channel whatever thoughts it is into a creative outlet.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
18 Apr 16
Not too sure in the case of us musicians, either! We have to be a little crazy to want to spend hours and hours alone in a practice room. However, that is what has to happen if we want to be good musicians.
Maybe that develops self-discipline, though, instead of insanity. This world is generally sadly lacking in self-discipline. Maybe we need the intensity of the arts to keep sane.
@quickinstinct (432)
• United States
18 Apr 16
@polyxena Self discipline I think is something so many are lacking. I think it takes active self monitoring, self improvement, and mindful purposeful thoughts and acts to improve discipline. But the benefits are huge.
