Are Artists Really Mad?

Interesting article -- I wish you could forward it to a psychiatrist I know in Karachi, he made me hate all Psychiatrists. Period.
Since then, I have figured, Psychiatrists are the illness of society, for who would tame the human heart to folly -- but the Psychiatrist?
You seem to be an intelligent man, but I will keep my reservations. I don't trust your kind.
In the nearest language, it always works.

Okay now, there's one girl in my class - a really good artist she is, and she has an extremely beautiful handwriting and has an interest in the arts and everything - but she is quite composed and calm, polite but having a strong point of view. I don't think she's lost her mind or something. She's just like everyone else. The difference between her and other young artists is that her creative skills have been tamed and trained. This is the cutting and pruning children require, to improve their skills. Otherwise, good article.

Yes. Good point raised. Before I read the article I'd like to answer the question in affirmative. After I read the article, I'll see what to say.

Re: # 41

:)

``sigh --mother nature``

mother nature > love is part of mother nature = sigh --love
what kind of part and how crutial: dont know

Hope this clears the mud

Re: # 40
dear raziab 9....you have been successful in confusing me because now i am as clear as mud...smiles...sohail

Re: # 39
sigh --mother nature :D

Re: # 38
Dear raziab9...creativity is part of love and I like what khalil gibran said about love

`don`t you ever think you can guide love. if love finds you worthy, she might guide you`

whnever you are guided by love and creativity please let us know, we might enjoy the gift.

sincerely sohail

Re: # 37

drsohail, creatively will flow anyway (That`s what makes creativity creative) - the matter is how I`d like to control creativity and would ``like`` to choose not to use it
:D

RB

Re: # 36
dear raziab....please let your creativity flow. it would benefit the rest of the world. even

your short letter inspired me to write another letter. sincerely sohail

Dear goodness
I almost wish I did not use my creativity and let it decay [or maybe it is the lack of creativity that i am getting sick of the creativity :-) ]. I`d atleast become a normal individual who didn`t have to sigh but rather breathe and sleep calmly.

Re: # 34
Dear HD....I am of the opinion that most people have

.....rational and logical thought to solve problems....functionaing of the left side of the brain

poets and artists have

.....creative thoughts and images for creative writing and artistic work....functioning of the right side of the brain...from the unconscious

Mystics with meditation try to control the left side so that the right side and unconscious

mind becomes active...it is a mystery

ghalib said

aatain hain ghaib say ye mazameen khiaaal main
ghalib sareer-e-khama nawaa-e- sarosh hay

sincerely sohail

You should propose that `permutations and combinations` be renamed `creations`, since they apparently mean the same :)

Some people feel that creativity `happens` when thought is absent. Not that the brain is asleep. No, its fully awake...but not thinking.
In fact, the whole eastern mysticism is centered around thought control/suppression.

Re: # 32
Dear HD....Yes, computer is creative but the scientist who created computer is more creative...smiles...sohail

DrSohail, your example is good. This is what I meant earlier by permutation and combination of current knowledge.

Take all the chemicals in this world. Try each one singly, then in all possible combinations. Note the results. Pick out the best one. Is this creativity?
If it is, then a computer is far more creative than any human.

A computer can work out all possible combinations in a chess game and beat Kasparov.
Would you call that creativity?

Re: # 30
Dear HD....your psychotherapist friend must have very different practice than mine. I see the most fascinating human beings, artists, writers and health care professionals and i feel as energetic at the end of the day as in the beginning.
As far as creativity is concerned I am still not clear about your association of thinking with memory. I think memory might or might not play a major role in creativity.
Let me share an example and then you give me your opinion
Two doctor friends worked in a sanitorium. Let us call them Dr A and Dr B
Both were incharge of a ward of 20 patients suffering from TB
One day Dr A made an observation that all his patients are depressed while Dr B`s patients are happy palying cards.
He asked DrB why are your patients so happy?
DrB asked....what do you treat your patients with?
Dr A said...Streptomycine
Dr B said I give them Streptomycine but I also give them Isoniazid
When Dr A stareted giving his patients Isoniazid alongside they felt better.
Isoniazid was the beginning of discovery of antidepressants.
How do you think memory played a role in this creativity....scientific discovery?
sincerely sohail

DrSohail, yes psychology is infinitely interesting and really I envy you your field, not your job though.
Listening to nuts and semi-nuts rant for hours, smiling patiently, can reduce tough people to putty. A psychotherapist friend of mine says punishing physical games are the only way he theraputes himself after a days work.

But coming to the issue - creativity, looks like you didnt quite catch my line. Thought can never be creative because its always from the past. If you did we could communicate.

Let me quote from a cartoon book (pearls before swine - stephan pastis). My daughters book. Here`s the introduction.

---

The question I get the most from Pearls readers is - where do you get your ideas.

And the truth is I dont know.

What I do know is that most of the better ones seems to quite literally pop into my head, with the dialogue already written. Its an unbelievable feeling when thats hapenning. Its like all you need do is keep the pen moving.
The converse is also true. When theres nothing, theres nothing.

While the thought process remains a mystery, I have learned that there are certain circumstances that seem to be conducive to creativity than others. For me, the key is total isolation, loud music and coffee.

To make matters even stranger, I periodically go to my bookshelf and read the same sections of the same books over and over.

By the second hour of this, ideas will usually start coming and I`ll lie on the floor and write them all down in a spiral notebook. After about 8 hours of this I usually have a weeks worth of strips.