by Jennifer Southern

So much has been written and spoken of the links between madness, dependency and creativity that one could be mistaken for thinking that these things are a necessary requisite of creative intelligence. The image of Van Gogh as a turbulent alcoholic, drunk on absinthe, or William Burroughs as the wizened former junky help to contribute to a culture in which illness and addiction are seem as integral to art-making. Yet how true is this, and could it actually be a damaging notion?

Struggling for Creativity
The link between creativity and internal angst is well documented and goes back as far as civilisation. Plato wrote of Socrates entering trances as he delivered his brilliant philosophical observations. Similarly, Julius Caesar, who many forget was a great writer, suffered from what is widely believed to be Frontal Lobe Epilepsy, which can lead to heightened awareness, nervousness and increased creativity. 

The great artists Michelangelo and Raphael - who worked contemporaneously in Rome in the Renaissance period - were both said to be difficult characters. Michelangelo had problems forming relationships, leading to the belief that he may have suffered from autism. Raphael, rather, was a party-goer and notorious womaniser who was alleged by the art historian Vasari to have died from too much love making! 

Why Art and Madness?
Whilst many theories have been put forward to explain the link between mental illness and creativity, it seems that many illnesses lead to heightened activity in the brain linked to producing creative works. It is also the case that people who have problems forming relationships due to illness often focus their energies on their strengths, which include lonesome pondering, which in turn produces works of art or literature. This compensates for their lack in other areas of life.

Finally, happy people are not likely to want to spend hours alone thinking over a problem, so, by nature it is more likely that depressed people will produce novels, poems, paintings or great musical scores.

Not only Artists
It is not only the creative art field that benefits from madness. Actors and, perhaps counter intuitively, comedians are famously prone to depression. Comedian and writer Spike Milligan is widely known for battling openly with Bi-Polar disorder - formerly known as 'manic depression' - for most of his life. Is it believed that the random and varied nature of his thinking helped him to create wild poems and zany comedy performances.

The world of business also has its share of mental illness with many high achievers said to be obsessive to the extreme. Examples given include Steve Jobs whose meticulous attention to detail made him one of the great innovators of the late 20th and early 21st Century. It also made him difficult to work with!

The world of politics also has its troubled characters, with wartime leader Winston Churchill - who was also a highly respected writer - famously suffering from what he called 'that black dog, depression'. Meanwhile, British 18th century Prime Minister Pitt the Younger was known for his fondness of the fortified wine,  Port, which he took 'for medicinal reasons'.

The world of sport also has its addicts, such as the Irish footballer George Best and the English and Tottenham midfielder Paul 'Gazza' Gasoigne, who tragically failed to rediscover the glory of their football playing days, turning to drink to fill a void. Gascoigne still struggles with Bi-Polar disorder and alcoholism.

Illness as Creative Method
The aspiring writer, artist or even businessman or politician may be forgiven at this point for thinking that mental illness is a prerequisite for being creative. However, there is little to be said for embracing illness and it must be noted that  a large number of famed addicts either gave up or tried to give up their habits in their lifetime. Others have always been teetotal. Frank Zappa, the famed musician is included among the latter group, though he is thought to have died from cancer linked to over consumption of caffeine.

Additionally one must consider that many people who suffer from mental illness spend a great deal of their time trying to be well, and certainly not trying to be ill! Often the hype surrounding mental illness and creativity overshadows reality. For example, people in creative circles often cite the philosopher Nietzsche as an example of a genius prone to excess and madness. However, Neitzsche never drank alcohol and his written correspondence up to his mental breakdown at age 45 show a diligent and stable mind. Such myths serve to create the impression that debauchery and illness make for better art, but it is often a longing for sobriety and well being that drive the creative genius.