Tortured artist
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| + | [[Image:A painting of the English romantic poet Thomas Chatterton, believed to have killed himself with arsenic in 1770.jpg |thumb|right|200px|''[[The Death of Chatterton]]'' (1856) by Henry Wallis]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Vincent van Gogh - Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''[[Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe]]'' (1889) by Vincent van Gogh | ||
| + | <br> | ||
| + | Van Gogh struggled with [[poverty]] and [[mental illness]] for most of his life is regarded as a famous example of the tortured artist.]] | ||
| + | [[Image:The Poor Poet by Carl Spitzweg.jpg|thumb|200px|''[[The Poor Poet]]'' (1839) is a painting by Carl Spitzweg]] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | The '''Tortured artist''' is a [[stock character]] and [[stereotype]], who is in constant ferment due to frustrations with [[art]] and other people. The tortured artist feels [[alienated]] and [[misunderstood]] due to what they perceive as the ignorance or neglect of others who do not understand them, and the things they feel are important. They [[tobacco smoking|smoke]] most of the time, experience [[sexual frustration]], and appear overwhelmed by their own [[emotion]]s and inner conflicts. The tortured artist is often [[mock]]ed in popular culture for being attention seeking, [[narcissistic]], or just adverse to happiness. | + | The '''tortured artist''' is a [[stock character]] and real-life [[stereotype]] who is in constant [[suffering|torment]] due to [[frustration]]s with [[art]] and other people. Tortured artists feel [[Social alienation |alienated]] and [[misunderstanding|misunderstood]] due to the perceived ignorance or neglect of others who do not understand nor support them and the things they feel are important. They sometimes [[tobacco smoking|smoke]], experience [[sexual frustration]] and recurring [[broken heart|heartbreak]], and generally appear overwhelmed by their own emotions and inner conflicts. They are often mocked in popular culture for "thinking too much", being [[quixotism|quixotic]], or coming across as pretentiously adverse to happiness and fun. Other stereotypical traits vary between extremes – from being [[narcissism|narcissistic]] and [[Extraversion and introversion|extroverted]] to being [[Self-hatred|self-loathing]] and [[Extraversion and introversion|introverted]]. Tortured artists are often [[Self-destructive behaviour|self-destructive]] in behavior and are generally associated with mental health issues such as [[substance abuse]], [[personality disorder]]s, or [[Clinical depression|depression]]. Tortured artists are often prone to [[self-mutilation]] and have a high rate of [[suicide]]. |
| Typical real-life artists include [[Jackson Pollock]], [[Egon Schiele]] and [[Vincent van Gogh]]. | Typical real-life artists include [[Jackson Pollock]], [[Egon Schiele]] and [[Vincent van Gogh]]. | ||
| - | ==See also== | + | |
| - | *[[Starving artist]] | + | ==Pathologizing the artist== |
| - | *[[Unpopularity]] | + | :''[[pathologizing the artist]]'' |
| + | The period of [[Fin de siècle|1880-1920]] saw a rise in pathologizing the artist, the [[medicalization]] of creativity. [[Cesare Lombroso]] with '' [[The Man of Genius]]'' and [[Max Nordau]]'s ''[[Degeneration (Max Nordau)|Degeneration]]'' were the first efforts in the field. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Frank Kermode]] in the introduction to ''[[The Romantic Agony]]'' by Mario Praz writes: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :"[[Max Nordau]]'s ''[[Degeneration (Max Nordau)|Degeneration]]'' aims at being a literary [[nosology]] of the [[Decadent Movement]], but it is completely discredited by its [[pseudo-erudition]], its grossly [[positivist]] point of view, and its [[insincere]] moral tone." | ||
| + | ==Creativity and mental illness== | ||
| + | :''[[creativity and mental illness]] | ||
| + | The 1996 book ''[[Touched with Fire]]'', by American psychologist [[Kay Redfield Jamison]], looks at the relationship between [[bipolar disorder]] and [[Creativity|artistic creativity]]. It contains a number of case histories of dead people who are described as probably having suffered from bipolar disorder. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Other artistic stereotypes similar to the tortured artist== | ||
| + | ===Poète maudit=== | ||
| + | :''[[poète maudit]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | A '''poète maudit''' (''[[accursed]]'' poet) is a [[poet]] living a life outside or against society. [[toxicomania|Abuse of drugs and alcohol]], [[insanity]], [[crime]], [[violence]], and in general any societal [[sin]], often resulting in an [[early death]] are typical elements of the biography of a ''poète maudit''. | ||
| + | ===Byronic hero=== | ||
| + | :''[[Byronic hero]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The '''Byronic hero''' is a variation on the tortured artist. He is an [[ideal]]ized but [[flawed]] [[fictional character|character]] exemplified in the life and writings of [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]], characterized by his ex-lover [[Lady Caroline Lamb]] as being "[[mad, bad and dangerous to know]]". The Byronic hero has the following characteristics: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * conflicting emotions, [[Bipolar disorder|bipolar tendencies]], or [[Mood disorder|moodiness]] | ||
| + | * self-critical and introspective | ||
| + | * struggles with [[integrity]] | ||
| + | * a [[Antisocial personality disorder|distaste]] for social institutions and social norms | ||
| + | * being an exile, an [[outcast]], or an [[outlaw]] | ||
| + | * a [[egalitarianism|lack of respect]] for rank and privilege | ||
| + | * a troubled past | ||
| + | * being [[cynical]], demanding, and/or [[arrogant]] | ||
| + | * often [[Self-loathing|self-destructive]] | ||
| + | * troubles with [[sexual identity]] | ||
| + | * [[loner]], often rejected from society | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Examples== | ||
| + | *[[Pete Doherty]] | ||
| + | *[[Dante Alighieri]] | ||
| + | *[[Kurt Cobain]] | ||
| + | *[[Marilyn Monroe]] | ||
| + | *[[Ian Curtis]] | ||
| + | *[[Nick Drake]] | ||
| + | *[[F. Scott Fitzgerald]] | ||
| + | *[[Judy Garland]] | ||
| + | *[[Vincent Van Gogh]] | ||
| + | *[[Ernest Hemingway]] | ||
| + | *[[Daniel Johnston]] | ||
| + | *[[Franz Kafka]] | ||
| + | *[[Frida Kahlo]] | ||
| + | *[[John Lennon]] | ||
| + | *[[H. P. Lovecraft]] | ||
| + | *[[Sylvia Plath]] | ||
| + | *[[Edgar Allan Poe]] | ||
| + | *[[Robert Schumann]] | ||
| + | *[[Elliott Smith]] | ||
| + | *[[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]] | ||
| + | *[[Hunter S. Thompson]] | ||
| + | *[[John Kennedy Toole]] | ||
| + | *[[Oscar Wilde]] | ||
| + | *[[Syd Barrett]] | ||
| + | *[[Virginia Woolf]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == See also == | ||
| + | *[[Artist]] | ||
| + | * [[Beautiful loser]] | ||
| + | *[[Bohemianism]] | ||
| + | *[[Bohemianism and 'artistism']] | ||
| *[[Byronic hero]] | *[[Byronic hero]] | ||
| + | *[[Creativity and mental illness]] | ||
| + | * [[Fou littéraire]] | ||
| + | *[[Mad genius]] | ||
| + | *[[Mental disorders in art]] | ||
| + | * [[Outsider art]] | ||
| + | *[[Pathologizing the artist]] | ||
| + | * [[Paintings by Adolf Hitler]] | ||
| + | *[[Poète maudit]] | ||
| + | *[[Starving artist]] | ||
| + | *[[Self-destructive behaviour]] | ||
| + | *[[Theia mania]] | ||
| *[[Torture]]d | *[[Torture]]d | ||
| - | *[[Artist]] | + | *[[Unpopularity]] |
| + | *[[Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear]] by Vincent van Gogh | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Current revision
Van Gogh struggled with poverty and mental illness for most of his life is regarded as a famous example of the tortured artist.
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Featured: |
The tortured artist is a stock character and real-life stereotype who is in constant torment due to frustrations with art and other people. Tortured artists feel alienated and misunderstood due to the perceived ignorance or neglect of others who do not understand nor support them and the things they feel are important. They sometimes smoke, experience sexual frustration and recurring heartbreak, and generally appear overwhelmed by their own emotions and inner conflicts. They are often mocked in popular culture for "thinking too much", being quixotic, or coming across as pretentiously adverse to happiness and fun. Other stereotypical traits vary between extremes – from being narcissistic and extroverted to being self-loathing and introverted. Tortured artists are often self-destructive in behavior and are generally associated with mental health issues such as substance abuse, personality disorders, or depression. Tortured artists are often prone to self-mutilation and have a high rate of suicide.
Typical real-life artists include Jackson Pollock, Egon Schiele and Vincent van Gogh.
Contents |
Pathologizing the artist
The period of 1880-1920 saw a rise in pathologizing the artist, the medicalization of creativity. Cesare Lombroso with The Man of Genius and Max Nordau's Degeneration were the first efforts in the field.
Frank Kermode in the introduction to The Romantic Agony by Mario Praz writes:
- "Max Nordau's Degeneration aims at being a literary nosology of the Decadent Movement, but it is completely discredited by its pseudo-erudition, its grossly positivist point of view, and its insincere moral tone."
Creativity and mental illness
The 1996 book Touched with Fire, by American psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison, looks at the relationship between bipolar disorder and artistic creativity. It contains a number of case histories of dead people who are described as probably having suffered from bipolar disorder.
Other artistic stereotypes similar to the tortured artist
Poète maudit
A poète maudit (accursed poet) is a poet living a life outside or against society. Abuse of drugs and alcohol, insanity, crime, violence, and in general any societal sin, often resulting in an early death are typical elements of the biography of a poète maudit.
Byronic hero
The Byronic hero is a variation on the tortured artist. He is an idealized but flawed character exemplified in the life and writings of Lord Byron, characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline Lamb as being "mad, bad and dangerous to know". The Byronic hero has the following characteristics:
- conflicting emotions, bipolar tendencies, or moodiness
- self-critical and introspective
- struggles with integrity
- a distaste for social institutions and social norms
- being an exile, an outcast, or an outlaw
- a lack of respect for rank and privilege
- a troubled past
- being cynical, demanding, and/or arrogant
- often self-destructive
- troubles with sexual identity
- loner, often rejected from society
Examples
- Pete Doherty
- Dante Alighieri
- Kurt Cobain
- Marilyn Monroe
- Ian Curtis
- Nick Drake
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Judy Garland
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Ernest Hemingway
- Daniel Johnston
- Franz Kafka
- Frida Kahlo
- John Lennon
- H. P. Lovecraft
- Sylvia Plath
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Robert Schumann
- Elliott Smith
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Hunter S. Thompson
- John Kennedy Toole
- Oscar Wilde
- Syd Barrett
- Virginia Woolf
See also
- Artist
- Beautiful loser
- Bohemianism
- Bohemianism and 'artistism'
- Byronic hero
- Creativity and mental illness
- Fou littéraire
- Mad genius
- Mental disorders in art
- Outsider art
- Pathologizing the artist
- Paintings by Adolf Hitler
- Poète maudit
- Starving artist
- Self-destructive behaviour
- Theia mania
- Tortured
- Unpopularity
- Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh
