Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Are Depressed Artists Somehow More Profound?

Supple Cow · 04-20-2005, 07:27 AM

raveneye, I see how it can seem that the two are coming from the same place, but this is exactly what the article I posted describes. I don't doubt that you experienced depression after your brother was killed, but the fact that you felt a great inspiration and were very productive likely had more to do with the fact that you had a lot of strong feelings for your brother to begin with. Like you said, you felt the need to replace his loss and honor him... that's not depression making you creative, it's a situation that made it an appropriate time for you to express something you already felt at the same time as causing you depression.

EDIT: To clarify why I personally decided to post this article, I was more interested in the social aspect of what he describes. I don't actually think it's very realistic to say we'll be able to eradicate depression very soon, so that point is moot to me. I also realize that anti-depressants alter behavior in ways other than simply reducing depression so I can see why, if they did lead to an effective cure, some people would choose to battle with the depression without the meds. But that, to me, is the same issue of choosing medical treatment as in the case of choosing to have (or not have) a DNR order. Why do arguments about creativity belong in discussions of treating this illness? I say they don't.

04-20-2005, 07:27 AM	#19 (permalink)
Supple Cow Americow, the Beautiful Location: Washington, D.C.	raveneye, I see how it can seem that the two are coming from the same place, but this is exactly what the article I posted describes. I don't doubt that you experienced depression after your brother was killed, but the fact that you felt a great inspiration and were very productive likely had more to do with the fact that you had a lot of strong feelings for your brother to begin with. Like you said, you felt the need to replace his loss and honor him... that's not depression making you creative, it's a situation that made it an appropriate time for you to express something you already felt at the same time as causing you depression. EDIT: To clarify why I personally decided to post this article, I was more interested in the social aspect of what he describes. I don't actually think it's very realistic to say we'll be able to eradicate depression very soon, so that point is moot to me. I also realize that anti-depressants alter behavior in ways other than simply reducing depression so I can see why, if they did lead to an effective cure, some people would choose to battle with the depression without the meds. But that, to me, is the same issue of choosing medical treatment as in the case of choosing to have (or not have) a DNR order. Why do arguments about creativity belong in discussions of treating this illness? I say they don't. __________________ "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." (Michael Jordan) Last edited by Supple Cow; 04-20-2005 at 07:41 AM.. Reason: A lot more was added to the discussion as I was writing this.