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That's how I read it also. Take for example Kurt Cobain (whatever you think of him and his music). He had major success in music, but his life was a disaster a
by larntz 6y ago
That's how I read it also.
Take for example Kurt Cobain (whatever you think of him and his music). He had major success in music, but his life was a disaster and not something I'd hope for a loved one.
I do agree that it seems like the best art is created by "tortured artists".
- barrkel 6y agoDo you think he'd be ok with the opposite - a bland, contained and long life? What is life for? There are fundamental questions here and I don't think the answers are obvious as you seem to think.
- NateEag 6y agoTortured artists have produced some great work, true. J. S. Bach had some hardships in his life, but he wasn't tortured. J. R. R. Tolkien, similarly, was not tortured. da Vinci's life doesn't seem to have been horrible either. I think they stand as strong counterexamples to the idea that tortured artists make the best art.
- _emacsomancer_ 6y agoTolkien wasn't tortured, but he fought in WWI.
- NateEag 6y agoI guess people (particularly Tom Shippey, IIRC) do argue that's a lot of what made his work what it is. I tend to forget about that part of his history. Certainly it would have been a traumatic experience. Definitely a relevant point. Thanks for mentioning it.