There surely seems to be a correlation between great art and mental illness. Van Gogh, Rothko, Frida Kahlo... I guess it depends on your taste in art, though. I'd put Terry in this camp for sure.
Those were a few that were lucky enough to earn a living / have people take care of them; that's only a small percentage, the rest ends up homeless, dead, interned, jailed. Terry is headed that way too now.
The one guy is followed by the government and writes a book about it.
The other guy is followed by the goverment and runs.
Both are delusional.
All thats missing is the interrupt to reality.
How do you mean? TempleOS is undoubtably a pretty interesting achievement, both in the artistic and technological sense - but Terry has serious mental issues, and we shouldn't overlook them as "oh, that's just how artists are".
In fact, if you do a careful study of history, many of the best artists have "serious mental issues". The question is, how do we define "serious mental issues" and "art"? I don't think its a coincidence that people with off-the-charts creativity are mentally different than most other people. If your thought process is that far removed from others in regards to art ("creativity"), then it only stands to reason that your thought process would be very different from other people in other regards, too.
I think, in part, it comes down to socioeconomic status.
Somebody from a wealthy background who has mental health issues might be able to afford to live in an unconventional way, supported by the people around them, whereas somebody from a poor background is going to end up living on the street when those same issues prevent them from holding down a job and paying the bills.
Art in Swedish is "konst" which is the base for the word "konstig" which means, literally, weird or odd. I'm pretty sure there's a reason for that etymology.
You cant say that- because if you imply that non neurotypical behaviour makes for great artists, you are basically telling alot of people that they will never be great artists.
At least in the US, the DSMV is used to define "serious mental issues" while everywhere "art" is completely subjective.
I don't disagree with the premise of very creative people having very different though processes from the majority. There is a very fine line between genius and insanity.
Terry has created an interesting project DESPITE his illness, not BECAUSE of it. It's very likely templeOS could be even greater without it. I've experienced personal projects being helped and hindered by mental issues and obsessions.
Mental illness often causes struggles in other parts of life. How much more effort could an artist (or engineer, anyone can build and create), devote to their work if they didn't have those struggles in other life scenarios?
No, this what a real schizophrenic is. It's a terrible disease that should not be romanticized in any way.
There surely seems to be a correlation between great art and mental illness. Van Gogh, Rothko, Frida Kahlo... I guess it depends on your taste in art, though. I'd put Terry in this camp for sure.
Those were a few that were lucky enough to earn a living / have people take care of them; that's only a small percentage, the rest ends up homeless, dead, interned, jailed. Terry is headed that way too now.
Great artists who don't suffer from mental illness exist, too.
Are you implying he is not an artist because he is schizophrenic?
An artist is one who creates art, and having used TempleOS I assure you it is among the finest.
He may be an artist AND a schizophrenic. One is not dependent on the other. Sometimes it just happens.
People have problems. You have problems, and so do I.
I think we can romanticize Terry's work while also keeping his condition in mind. They're separable, like a gaussian blur.
We can romanticize his work, but we shouldn't romanticize his life.
1 reply →
The one guy is followed by the government and writes a book about it. The other guy is followed by the goverment and runs. Both are delusional. All thats missing is the interrupt to reality.
How do you mean? TempleOS is undoubtably a pretty interesting achievement, both in the artistic and technological sense - but Terry has serious mental issues, and we shouldn't overlook them as "oh, that's just how artists are".
Maybe more Outsider Art
In fact, if you do a careful study of history, many of the best artists have "serious mental issues". The question is, how do we define "serious mental issues" and "art"? I don't think its a coincidence that people with off-the-charts creativity are mentally different than most other people. If your thought process is that far removed from others in regards to art ("creativity"), then it only stands to reason that your thought process would be very different from other people in other regards, too.
I think, in part, it comes down to socioeconomic status.
Somebody from a wealthy background who has mental health issues might be able to afford to live in an unconventional way, supported by the people around them, whereas somebody from a poor background is going to end up living on the street when those same issues prevent them from holding down a job and paying the bills.
Art in Swedish is "konst" which is the base for the word "konstig" which means, literally, weird or odd. I'm pretty sure there's a reason for that etymology.
2 replies →
You cant say that- because if you imply that non neurotypical behaviour makes for great artists, you are basically telling alot of people that they will never be great artists.
1 reply →
At least in the US, the DSMV is used to define "serious mental issues" while everywhere "art" is completely subjective.
I don't disagree with the premise of very creative people having very different though processes from the majority. There is a very fine line between genius and insanity.
Let's not romanticize mental illnesses and lack of responsibility and guidance.
Why not? What is so bad about reminding people of the good that could come from this, if it were not for the missing pieces.
Terry has created an interesting project DESPITE his illness, not BECAUSE of it. It's very likely templeOS could be even greater without it. I've experienced personal projects being helped and hindered by mental issues and obsessions.
Mental illness often causes struggles in other parts of life. How much more effort could an artist (or engineer, anyone can build and create), devote to their work if they didn't have those struggles in other life scenarios?
2 replies →