Interesting article. The author would benefit from reading (if they haven't already) some of Jung's (C.G. Jung) work on the collective unconcious and the archet

Interesting article. The author would benefit from reading (if they haven't already) some of Jung's (C.G. Jung) work on the collective unconcious and the archetypes that our psyches interact with. Artists do nothing more but tap into collective archetypes, symbols, and motifs - shaping them, clothing them, and casting them in the light of that craftsman's psyche. This is why people find such work captivating, both intellectually and emotionally. Old mythos were no different but simply a facade over the fundamental (archetypal) drama that plays out within our psyche. The emotional power of Romeo and Juliet or Tristan and Isolde are other good examples too. Genius is, to me, the ability to generate from one's own unique psychic (mental) configuration a model of their interpretation of a pattern, system, archetype, or motif true to the valuing meme their mind operates within at that time. Many see it as "exceptional" (the dictionary even uses it that way), something measured by the precepts of what is considered average; I prefer the concept of true self-expression as guided and judged by true self-knowledge. Genius is then innate and accessible to anyone willing to cultivate a defining personal purpose, skills, and talents; to introspect upon the questions of "who are you", "what do you want", and "why are you here". I know this comment is a bit of a tangent for Hacker News as it has delved into psychology and a bit of philosophy. I find it relevant though, even if tangentially, because we programmers (esp. hackers) have a knack for holistic and systemic thinking. The two qualities that comprise genius. EDIT: In my first paragraph, I don't mean to down-play the artist's creative ability, toil, and skill that goes into creating a piece of work.