Do you believe that the best artists are tortured souls?

[TheNoNamedOne]

I think that great artists in the various forms of the arts are quite sensitive to their surroundings and that life disappoints them, and perhaps it is this that compells them to their work -- perhaps leading to momentary carthisesis for them until their next bout of melancholley overwhelms them.

Charles Schulz once said of his famed Peanuts world:

"All the loves in the strip are unrequited; all the baseball games are lost; all the test scores are D minues; the Great Pumpkin never comes; and the football is always pulled away."

Are these the themes that underpin the personal lives of most great artists? How is it that the depression and depressed outlook on life from our artists bring so much joy to us? Either they or we seem to be masters in translation from one emotion to the other.

Thoughts?

[dk]

Yes and no. Some of the most powerful pieces of work have definitely been made by tortured souls (Russian literature, War literature, etc), but I doubt it takes a tortured soul to create good pottery or sculpture.

For me personally, I write my best in my darkest times.

[Fonze]

These kind of tortured souls.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb200/ScottSell/barker_mongroid_photo_02_dl.jpg

On a serious note I think that there depression or despair allows them to wish for an even greater joy than an already happy person. Thus making stories that are really good.

[Galina]

where did you get that pic?

[Fonze]

where did you get that pic?

I got it off photobucket but all you need to do is google tortured souls and press images.

[okidokey]

The idea that they are somehow "tortured souls" (depressed, crazy, what have you) is complete BS. People who believe that usually bring up Van Gogh as an example, as if he were the archetype for all artists. This would be the equivalent of someone using Adolf Hitler as the archetype for all leaders, and saying, "All leaders are megalomaniacs." Obviously BS.

Anecdotally, the artists I have known (and I have known many) tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives than the non-artist types. They are actively engaged in making things that have meaning, while most Americans derive meaning from their television sets. Personally, I think people who feel the need to classify artists as "different" are looking for excuses to explain why they can't do whatever it is they really want to do.

On the other hand, it may well be that people who are depressed choose to express themselves artistically, because there is no room in American "you have to be happy 24/7 or there is something wrong with you" culture for them to express how they feel. But don't confuse the two. "Depressed people express themselves artistically" and "Artists are depressed" are two entirely different statements.

[P_chan]

That depends on what you mean by "tortured" souls. Certainly not those little middle class goth kids who think they have it tough.

These kind of tortured souls.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb200/ScottSell/barker_mongroid_photo_02_dl.jpg (http://%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb200/ScottSell/barker_mongroid_photo_02_dl.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)

On a serious note I think that there depression or despair allows them to wish for an even greater joy than an already happy person. Thus making stories that are really good.

That's a McFarlen figure IIRC.

[GoochBomber]

i believe that yes, "tortured souls" so to say do produce much better quality poems, music, paintings, whatever it may be. But on the flip side so do people who are genuinly (sp?) happy. I think its the middle ones of just average or mediocre lifestyles that rarely produce things worthwhile. Now i know there may be a few cases in history of such things, im just stating IMHO that your more likely to find more artistic things from the suffering or blissful. Sorry if i offended anyone.

[quiltpig]

What I think is beautiful art may be different from what another person thinks is beautiful art. I don't think it's possible to say the best artists are tortured souls. It depends on what a person considers art, and from that, what they consider to be the best art.

It does seem that a lot of famous artists suffered tragedy of some form in their lives, but could that not be some of the reason they became famous? That inspite of, or because of, the suffering they endured they went on to produce very powerful art?

Just my opinion.

[Trail]

IMO some people are more sensitive to their environment/surroundings so much so that it allows them to take in what some others may disregard on daily basis. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to help/cause a person to notice things others do not. I know from my life experiences, what I appreciate will not be the same as say yours or his, but the art form comes in when you want another person to understand what you see and how you feel. Some just construe what they want others to see better than others.

[proudtobnotpc]

How to make a great artist: Take any semi-talented person, add some booze,pot,smack, and heroine. They are bond to come up with some pretty wicked stuff

[dk]

How to make a great artist: Take any semi-talented person, add some booze,pot,smack, and heroine. They are bond to come up with some pretty wicked stuff
Hook him up with a girlfriend and then have her dump him right after he falls for her. That always works too. :thumbup: