Depression and Creativity

Peter H.M.Brooks wrote:
> Dennis' Newsgroups wrote:
>
>> Well, alot of the great art of the history was from depression or some
>> other state of emotional pain. This holds true for paintings,
>> sculptures, music, writing, etc. Nothing like mental anguish to get
>> the creativity juices flowing to express it.
>>
> The artist starving in a garret is certainly still a popular stereotype
> and, as such, has to be taken seriously.
>
> So, yes, unhappy people have produced wonderful work - most recently, I
> read a review of a biography of Josef Conrad that seems to confirm that
> view in spades. He left a happy life as a seaman for an unhappy one as a
> writer and family man.
>
> I'm not sure that it is necessary, though. It certainly isn't sufficient
> - unhappy people also produce crap.
>
Yes, but it's well-known that Conrad had a heart of darkness.
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

On Aug 29, 4:40 am, Rob van der Putten <r....RemoveThis@sput.nl> wrote:
> Hi there
>
> helensilverb....RemoveThis@hotmail.com wrote:
> > That's why it's so important to see a professional, because only they
> > can determine what degree of depression you are in and what drug and
> > how much is best suited for the person.
> > Exercise does help. Stimulating the endorphins.
> > Helen
>
> Did you see Stephan Fry's documentary on bipolar disorder?http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8579422939708555329&q=%22ste...
>
> He is highly productive during his manic episodes.
> He claims that he is better off being manic depressed then being just
> plain happy.
>
> A lot of people just cope by eating lots of fatty fish ( 3).
>
> Regards,
> Rob
> --
> The nice thing about the Millau bridge is that you can have both your
> head in the clouds and your feet on the ground at the same time.

Unfortunately not many are that fortunate to be able to function, even
in the basic sense, while suffering from severe depression.
Fatty fish that comes from ice cold waters such as some Norwegian
countries are a great idea for overall good health.
Helen
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

> The artist starving in a garret is certainly still a popular stereotype
> and, as such, has to be taken seriously.

A lot of people believe in alien invaders. Does that mean we have to take
them seriously?
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

Erik A. Mattila wrote:
> Peter H.M.Brooks wrote:
>> Dennis' Newsgroups wrote:
>>
>>> Well, alot of the great art of the history was from depression or
>>> some other state of emotional pain. This holds true for paintings,
>>> sculptures, music, writing, etc. Nothing like mental anguish to get
>>> the creativity juices flowing to express it.
>>>
>> The artist starving in a garret is certainly still a popular
>> stereotype and, as such, has to be taken seriously.
>>
>> So, yes, unhappy people have produced wonderful work - most recently,
>> I read a review of a biography of Josef Conrad that seems to confirm
>> that view in spades. He left a happy life as a seaman for an unhappy
>> one as a writer and family man.
>>
>> I'm not sure that it is necessary, though. It certainly isn't
>> sufficient - unhappy people also produce crap.
>>
> Yes, but it's well-known that Conrad had a heart of darkness.
>
Mmm. Nice enought pun, I suppose, but a little weak.

To have written a work so powerful as to be able to be transmogrified
into 'Apocalypse Now' with hardly any fundamental artistic modification
is quite extraordinarily able. He also wrote many other hugely powerful
works.

English wasn't even his first language.

Strangely he had little confidence himself in his magnificent ouvre.
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

pico wrote:
>> The artist starving in a garret is certainly still a popular stereotype
>> and, as such, has to be taken seriously.
>
> A lot of people believe in alien invaders. Does that mean we have to take
> them seriously?
>
No. Stereotypes are different from mass delusions.

However, the mass delusion of Incubi and Succubi, being identical to
that of the mass delusion of alien invaders, is important for different
reasons - it is something that people wish to believe in. See
'Extraordinary Popular Delusions, and the madness of crowds' to
understand the difference.

Stereotypes are popular generalisations and, as such, are always wrong
about certain individuals - but at the same time, always right in some
way about the general case. Think of the stereotype of undertakers being
lugubriously - how many have you encountered who are not?
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

On Aug 30, 6:04 am, Rob van der Putten <r....DeleteThis@sput.nl> wrote:
> Hi there
>
> helensilverb....DeleteThis@hotmail.com wrote:
> > Unfortunately not many are that fortunate to be able to function, even
> > in the basic sense, while suffering from severe depression.
>
> It only works if your mood swings are not to deep.
>
> > Fatty fish that comes from ice cold waters such as some Norwegian
> > countries are a great idea for overall good health.
>
> Apparently due to Omega-3 fatty acid.
>
> Regards,
> Rob
> --
> The nice thing about the Millau bridge is that you can have both your
> head in the clouds and your feet on the ground at the same time.




"It only works if your mood swings are not too deep."

I wholeheartedly agree.

"Omega-3 fatty acid"

It is essential in every sense of being physically and mentally
healthy. The vascular system would certainly beneifit from it. I
mentioned fish coming from icy waters around Norwegian countries, as
their fish are the healthiest. This is what I heard.
BTW: it is essential for dogs too! The vet's office has their own
version of it.
Helen
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

Hi there


helensilverburg.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com wrote:

> Unfortunately not many are that fortunate to be able to function, even
> in the basic sense, while suffering from severe depression.

It only works if your mood swings are not to deep.

> Fatty fish that comes from ice cold waters such as some Norwegian
> countries are a great idea for overall good health.

Apparently due to Omega-3 fatty acid.


Regards,
Rob
--
The nice thing about the Millau bridge is that you can have both your
head in the clouds and your feet on the ground at the same time.
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

Peter H.M.Brooks wrote:
> Erik A. Mattila wrote:
>
>> Peter H.M.Brooks wrote:
>>
>>> Dennis' Newsgroups wrote:
>>>
>>>> Well, alot of the great art of the history was from depression or
>>>> some other state of emotional pain. This holds true for paintings,
>>>> sculptures, music, writing, etc. Nothing like mental anguish to get
>>>> the creativity juices flowing to express it.
>>>>
>>> The artist starving in a garret is certainly still a popular
>>> stereotype and, as such, has to be taken seriously.
>>>
>>> So, yes, unhappy people have produced wonderful work - most recently,
>>> I read a review of a biography of Josef Conrad that seems to confirm
>>> that view in spades. He left a happy life as a seaman for an unhappy
>>> one as a writer and family man.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure that it is necessary, though. It certainly isn't
>>> sufficient - unhappy people also produce crap.
>>>
>> Yes, but it's well-known that Conrad had a heart of darkness.
>
> >
> Mmm. Nice enought pun, I suppose, but a little weak.
>
> To have written a work so powerful as to be able to be transmogrified
> into 'Apocalypse Now' with hardly any fundamental artistic modification
> is quite extraordinarily able. He also wrote many other hugely powerful
> works.
>
> English wasn't even his first language.
>
> Strangely he had little confidence himself in his magnificent ouvre.

But Peter, the pun's engine cranks out its weary prose, fueled by
weakness. How else to elicit groans instead of laughter. How would
Conrad describe the pun?

“He was obeyed, yet he inspired neither love nor fear, nor even respect.
He inspired uneasiness. That was it!”
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

On Aug 30, 3:37 pm, "Peter H.M.Brooks" <pe... RemoveThis @news.co.za> wrote:
> helensilverb... RemoveThis @hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > "It only works if your mood swings are not too deep."
>
> > I wholeheartedly agree.
>
> > "Omega-3 fatty acid"
>
> > It is essential in every sense of being physically and mentally
> > healthy. The vascular system would certainly beneifit from it. I
> > mentioned fish coming from icy waters around Norwegian countries, as
> > their fish are the healthiest. This is what I heard.
> > BTW: it is essential for dogs too! The vet's office has their own
> > version of it.
> > Helen
>
> Have a look at some of David Horrobin's work, he's written some good
> books - his obituary is at:
>
> http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7394/885- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Interesting, thanks Peter.
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

helensilverburg.RemoveThis@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>
> "It only works if your mood swings are not too deep."
>
> I wholeheartedly agree.
>
> "Omega-3 fatty acid"
>
> It is essential in every sense of being physically and mentally
> healthy. The vascular system would certainly beneifit from it. I
> mentioned fish coming from icy waters around Norwegian countries, as
> their fish are the healthiest. This is what I heard.
> BTW: it is essential for dogs too! The vet's office has their own
> version of it.
> Helen
>
Have a look at some of David Horrobin's work, he's written some good
books - his obituary is at:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7394/885
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

"Wayne J. Cosshall" <wayne.RemoveThis@dimagemaker.com> wrote in message
news:46c3a950$0$844$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
> Hi All,
>
> I posts a new column on my site discussing creativity and depression:
> http://www.dimagemaker.com/article.php?articleID=1068
>

Wayne's post is the third current photo related post or blog article I've
read this week about photographers' depression. A couple are woe is me but
his postulates a creativity link. That's a cheerful twist on depression I
suppose.

I won't go into my thoughts about these stories of grown men and their
difficulties coping - but the following article is the funniest thing I've
seen in a long time.

only posted to this newsgroup - not the two dozen in the original post

http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-8/11883678922329...xml&col
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity 

helensilverburg.RemoveThis@hotmail.com wrote:

<edited, for brevity>

> Unfortunately not many are that fortunate to be able to function,
> even in the basic sense, while suffering from severe depression.
> Fatty fish that comes from ice cold waters such as some Norwegian
> countries are a great idea for overall good health.
> Helen


Hello, Helen:

"Norwegian countries," you say? There's only >one< of those:
Norway.

Duh! <g>

Seriously, I'm sure that you really meant, "Scandinavian
countries," instead.


Cordially,
John Turco <jtur.RemoveThis@concentric.net>
 >> Stay informed about: Depression and Creativity