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In a recent HN thread fellow HNers were asking what is a real artist: this is it.
by galfarragem 9y ago
In a recent HN thread fellow HNers were asking what is a real artist: this is it.
- pavel_lishin 9y agoHow 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".
- StanislavPetrov 9y agoIn 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.
- erric 9y agoAt 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.
- shirian 9y agoArt 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.
- bryanrasmussen 9y agoin Danish Kunstig main meaning is artificial or synthetic, secondary meaning - does not seem real, natural, or authentic (of upright standing) http://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?query=kunstig http://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?query=kunstig so I don't know that I would say there is a reason for the etymology that relates in any direct way with artists are weird.
- shirian 9y agoRelating to that is that artificial is "konstgjord" in Swedish, i.e. "art made".
- jmkni 9y agoI 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.
- WillReplyfFood 9y agoYou 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.
- pavel_lishin 9y agoIt also gives people with mental health problems an excuse to not seek treatment - "I don't need your stupid pills, I'm not broken, I'm just an artist!"
- whywhywhywhy 9y agoMaybe more Outsider Art
- raverbashing 9y agoLet's not romanticize mental illnesses and lack of responsibility and guidance.
- WillReplyfFood 9y agoWhy not? What is so bad about reminding people of the good that could come from this, if it were not for the missing pieces.
- mrguyorama 9y agoTerry 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?
- WillReplyfFood 9y agoThe disease makes you constantly form connection between things that are not related. It is a constant creativity generator humming away. Every Shizo lives in a spynovel. In Terrys case one where he got to play the all seeing controller he imagines behind every person. The OS is the sickness and its solutions are created by the sickness.
- wolfgke 9y ago> Terry has created an interesting project DESPITE his illness, not BECAUSE of it. I disagree. Were it not for God's mission to fulfill, I believe Terry would not work day and night on it.
- thomasz 9y agoNo, this what a real schizophrenic is. It's a terrible disease that should not be romanticized in any way.
- rogual 9y agoThere 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.
- Cthulhu_ 9y agoThose 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.
- pavel_lishin 9y agoGreat artists who don't suffer from mental illness exist, too.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- donatj 9y agoAre 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.
- gebeeson 9y agoHe may be an artist AND a schizophrenic. One is not dependent on the other. Sometimes it just happens.
- sillysaurus3 9y agoPeople 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.