The thin line between insanity and genius. - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

Dean

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575

Posted: March 08 2011 at 11:17

^ clue: those other voices are not geniuses.

What?

Chris S

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 09 2004
Location: Front Range
Status: Offline
Points: 7028

Posted: March 08 2011 at 11:08

^ That actually makes a lot of sense except all these voices in my head keep telling me otherwise

<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]

Dean

Special Collaborator

Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout

Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575

Posted: March 08 2011 at 11:05

There is no line between insanity and genius - you can be insane and a genius, you can be sane and a genius, you can be sane and not a genius and insane and not a genius. If there were a line then it would suggest that it can be crossed, that once you become one you are no longer the other. If there is a correlation then it is no different to the correlation between having blue eyes and two legs.

What?

Equality 7-2521 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: August 11 2005
Location: Philly
Status: Offline
Points: 15784

Posted: March 08 2011 at 09:59

Although I would hardly call Devy a genius, I think there certainly is a correlation and most probably a causation.

"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "

toroddfuglesteg View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Retired

Joined: March 04 2008
Location: Retirement Home
Status: Offline
Points: 3658

Posted: March 08 2011 at 09:53

(De)progressive wrote:

I have been wanting to discuss this since long time but now I got the chance. What do you think about the connection between the mental illnesses and talent?

Well, without a personality disorder, no creativity and no genious talents = the world would be a poorer place. That is an established fact now.

So to those of you (......) who has got this diagnose; please use your creativity to something good for the mankind. Write a book, compose music, make a movie, become a comedian, a model or an actor. Or you can do something positive for the prog rock scene or your local community. That as an alternative to becoming a nuisance or a danger to the society.

Edited by toroddfuglesteg - March 08 2011 at 09:54

(De)progressive View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 24 2010
Location: Turkey
Status: Offline
Points: 495

Posted: March 08 2011 at 09:06

Prog Geo wrote:

Barisch,it looks that you influenced from our discussion.Yes,I believe that mental illnesses help to create nice works.

Haha, yeah it helped me to remind the fact that I was planning to post a thread about this subject, but it was in my mind for a long time.

''Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment.'' (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Prog Geo

Forum Senior Member

Joined: November 09 2010
Location: Athens (Greece)
Status: Offline
Points: 2555

Posted: March 08 2011 at 08:49

Barisch,it looks that you influenced from our discussion.Yes,I believe that mental illnesses help to create nice works.

Sonorous Meal show every Sunday at 20:00 (greek time) on http://www.justincaseradio.com

(De)progressive View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 24 2010
Location: Turkey
Status: Offline
Points: 495

Posted: March 08 2011 at 08:41

Most of it makes sense, thanks.

''Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment.'' (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Negoba

Prog Reviewer

Joined: July 24 2008
Location: Big Muddy
Status: Offline
Points: 5210

Posted: March 08 2011 at 08:36

There is a state called hypomania, which is slightly elevated mood, productivity, focus. When a person is in this state, they really have an advantage over others. There seem to be a blessed few who seem to live there.

But most of the time it's part of a bipolar illness where people range from fully manic (going so fast that they start a million projects, finish none, don't sleep, do damaging impulsive things, etc., racing thoughts that eventually make no sense) to deep depression. Where hypomanic begins and manic ends is a matter of degree. Many of the most amazing folks in many fields are bipolar.

I personally think there is a correlation between obsessiveness and intelligence. That a big part of what we call intelligence is actually just the ability to completely submerge yourself in what you're learning.

And finally, true psychosis (losing the ability to fully grasp reality) certainly gives someone a brand new perspective. It's just that few are able to harness those new visions and ideas into something others can take in in a meaningful way. When it happens, it can be amazing.

Just a few thoughts.

You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.

(De)progressive View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 24 2010
Location: Turkey
Status: Offline
Points: 495

Posted: March 08 2011 at 08:29

I have been wanting to discuss this since long time but now I got the chance. What do you think about the connection between the mental illnesses and talent?

This subject is often pops in to my mind when I think about Van Gogh. I can say the same thing about some other artists, writers and even musicians, for example Devin Townsend and his bipolar disorder. He often mentioned that his sickness was the main reason of his almost totally opposite polar albums like City and Ocean Machine-Biomech.

Is it really true? Or any scientific explonation about it? I want to discuss this phenomenon.

''Hope is the first step on the road to dissapointment.'' (Friedrich Nietzsche)