Straight Jackets, Neurosis and Poetry
I found this cool essay written by C G Jung about the psychology of an artist and their art, which I thought would be of interest to some poets here at Deep Underground.
The book I was reading is called Modern Man in Search of a Soul, which is a series of lectures by C G Jung. The book was published first in 1933, so it ain't exactly "modern" as the title suggests, and Jung as a writer is dry as all fuck in his delivery, but the theories and analysis Jung presents (along with Freud's) in the essay Psychology and Literature, I think, are relevant to the internal mechanics and mindsets of the few writers and creative people I've had the misfortune of meeting.
Below is a link to the Psychology and Literature, unfortunately the video is cut short, so you miss the end of the chapter.
https://youtu.be/GNx_RxZNbTg
Part 1 The Work of Art
Part 2 The Artist (starts at 34 minutes 20 seconds)
So what are your thoughts on the psychology of "the artist" and their art? Do you think (as Freud suggests) that most artists, on a personal level, are emotionally undeveloped persons with neurosis?
Do you agree or disagree that a creative person is a duality; on one side a human being with a personal life and on the other side an impersonal creative process?
And what about the view that it's essential for art to rise above one's personal life and speak from the spirit and heart of a poet and artist?
The book I was reading is called Modern Man in Search of a Soul, which is a series of lectures by C G Jung. The book was published first in 1933, so it ain't exactly "modern" as the title suggests, and Jung as a writer is dry as all fuck in his delivery, but the theories and analysis Jung presents (along with Freud's) in the essay Psychology and Literature, I think, are relevant to the internal mechanics and mindsets of the few writers and creative people I've had the misfortune of meeting.
Below is a link to the Psychology and Literature, unfortunately the video is cut short, so you miss the end of the chapter.
https://youtu.be/GNx_RxZNbTg
Part 1 The Work of Art
Part 2 The Artist (starts at 34 minutes 20 seconds)
So what are your thoughts on the psychology of "the artist" and their art? Do you think (as Freud suggests) that most artists, on a personal level, are emotionally undeveloped persons with neurosis?
Do you agree or disagree that a creative person is a duality; on one side a human being with a personal life and on the other side an impersonal creative process?
And what about the view that it's essential for art to rise above one's personal life and speak from the spirit and heart of a poet and artist?
This duality is,I think,central to the cognitive dissonance that I feel an artist struggles with.
As Freud and Jung address issues that artists either consciously struggle with,or unconsciously manifest in their creative life,I think that both writers have credence.
Sometimes,in my everyday life ,I can feel good,but then I sit at the Piano,and the harmonics ,phrasing,textures and dynamics that I play appear to be a paradox of my other self so to speak.
So,in conclusion,your thoughts in this essay are salient to me as an artist.
As Freud and Jung address issues that artists either consciously struggle with,or unconsciously manifest in their creative life,I think that both writers have credence.
Sometimes,in my everyday life ,I can feel good,but then I sit at the Piano,and the harmonics ,phrasing,textures and dynamics that I play appear to be a paradox of my other self so to speak.
So,in conclusion,your thoughts in this essay are salient to me as an artist.
Anonymous
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Anonymous said:<< post removed >>
It's true, being creative is part of being human, and so is being destructive; our polar opposite to our creative feminine side.
The perception or stereotype troubled artist; the cursed being, has been around for a thousand years and only recently have there been proper studies into the connection between creativity and mental health.
Some studies have found that artists and writers are more creative when they're feeling positive.
So if poets write poems because it makes them feel good, then why is the poet so cursed? why do they suffer from depression and bipolar? Are we too attuned to our emotions and the world around us?
It's true, being creative is part of being human, and so is being destructive; our polar opposite to our creative feminine side.
The perception or stereotype troubled artist; the cursed being, has been around for a thousand years and only recently have there been proper studies into the connection between creativity and mental health.
Some studies have found that artists and writers are more creative when they're feeling positive.
So if poets write poems because it makes them feel good, then why is the poet so cursed? why do they suffer from depression and bipolar? Are we too attuned to our emotions and the world around us?
Anonymous
<< post removed >>
dartford said:don't think poets, whatever they are, see anything more
than anyone else
it's just writing about it
is what they do...
Thank you, dartford - a morsel of much-needed common sense as a timely antidote to all the 'I'm a poet so I'm really sensitive' preening. Poets take raw materials, in their case words, and make something with them. So do a bricklayer, a baker and a dressmaker. All of them may produce a thing of beauty or a pile of crap. Don't be precious about it.
than anyone else
it's just writing about it
is what they do...
Thank you, dartford - a morsel of much-needed common sense as a timely antidote to all the 'I'm a poet so I'm really sensitive' preening. Poets take raw materials, in their case words, and make something with them. So do a bricklayer, a baker and a dressmaker. All of them may produce a thing of beauty or a pile of crap. Don't be precious about it.
I would like to add this to the reading
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament
Paperback – October 18, 1996
by Kay Redfield Jamison (Author)
https://www.amazon.com/Touched-Fire-Manic-Depressive-Artistic-Temperament/dp/068483183X
I am unable to write since taking anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medicine. I am able to work better on the farm though.
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament
Paperback – October 18, 1996
by Kay Redfield Jamison (Author)
https://www.amazon.com/Touched-Fire-Manic-Depressive-Artistic-Temperament/dp/068483183X
I am unable to write since taking anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medicine. I am able to work better on the farm though.
case28 said:
Some studies have found that artists and writers are more creative when they're feeling positive.
So if poets write poems because it makes them feel good, then why is the poet so cursed? why do they suffer from depression and bipolar? Are we too attuned to our emotions and the world around us?
I will write whether feeling positive or negative, it depends whether I have anything in my head that wants to get out.
I suffer none of the above, I kick depression right in the face if it tries to get into my mind door. Never never had bipolar. More to the point, I don't do drugs or drink, so I'm pretty much in control of my mind these past years. Managed to deal with the mental scars left from past relationships and become quite indifferent to said past.
I'm very rarely down in the dumps (can't remember the last time I was) or feeling heartbroken because someone doesn't love me anymore, etc, etc.
Erm, does that mean I'm not a creative writer/artist person after all?
Some studies have found that artists and writers are more creative when they're feeling positive.
So if poets write poems because it makes them feel good, then why is the poet so cursed? why do they suffer from depression and bipolar? Are we too attuned to our emotions and the world around us?
I will write whether feeling positive or negative, it depends whether I have anything in my head that wants to get out.
I suffer none of the above, I kick depression right in the face if it tries to get into my mind door. Never never had bipolar. More to the point, I don't do drugs or drink, so I'm pretty much in control of my mind these past years. Managed to deal with the mental scars left from past relationships and become quite indifferent to said past.
I'm very rarely down in the dumps (can't remember the last time I was) or feeling heartbroken because someone doesn't love me anymore, etc, etc.
Erm, does that mean I'm not a creative writer/artist person after all?
Good for you, Magdalena ( beautiful name!). You don't have to be in a lather of despair or overwrought emotions to create fine poetry. The topic did remind me, however, of the opening of Philip Larkin's wonderful poem, 'This Be The Verse':
'They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.'
In a very funny lecture on creativity, Alan Bennett quoted the first two lines, then said: .The trouble is, if they don't fuck you up, you've got nothing to write about.'
'They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.'
In a very funny lecture on creativity, Alan Bennett quoted the first two lines, then said: .The trouble is, if they don't fuck you up, you've got nothing to write about.'
What defines a modern poet ? What is a poet ? Probably the most general answer would be the following : a poet is a person who writes poetry, all the rest is subjective. People still keep to old , out of date concepts about everything . Why should a poet be always weathered by ever-lasting storm ? Does neurosis have anything to do with poetry ?
