Always a controversial and problematic discussion, the much debated association between mental illness and creativity continues to engage and to elude definitive conclusions.
I am one of those sceptical of a necessary link between creative genius and mental illness. But am open to being challenged on this.
Check out this video from Aeon that proposes the potential of art as a better tool that science for understanding mental illness. The art in question focuses on the work of Edvard Munch, who I have spoken about here in previous posts.
CQ
Living through the Arts 
Hi
Fascinating subject – loved the film too – it made me think again how so many of the great jazz musicians I love – John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and so many others – were extremely disturbed individuals, many struggled with addictions, some with stays in mental hospitals; yet others were people we’d regard as very weird or highly eccentric. Then again, many fine musicians weren’t like that at all …
Paul >
Thanks Paul. Yes, I agree, I think that the inconsistency reflects life itself, a wonderful heterogeneity of troubled and fascinating individuals.
By the way, have you seen this recent John Berger story? http://lithub.com/john-berger-tells-a-fish-story-and-more/
C