Demons or Angels

"An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn't know why they choose him and he's usually too busy to wonder why."  William Faulkner

I must say that I agree with Faulkner, about being driven, the lack of understanding about why me, and the too busy to question. I often wonder if Van Gogh, Faulkner and other artists lived in todays world of yoga, group therapy and anti-depressants (along with the treatment for other illnesses, of course, both natural and pharmaceutical), whether they would still feel chased by demons. Was it just more avant-garde, stylish, cool to refer to the muse as a demon rather than, perhaps as an angel, or even, gasp, the Holy Spirit?!
The world would be a sad place without the foundation, history, gifts and sacrifices of artists through the centuries, in spite of their personal levels of torment, poverty, angst and abuse. What a grand stage they prepared for us, to play, revel, experiment and create sans the need for demons. 

disclaimer: the above was written in full awareness of the difference between fact and opinion.

Comments

Woody Berry said…
your post reminds me of the column in today's Herald-Leader by Paul Prather about the creativity of a writer, along with Paul's supposition that perhaps the writer was bipolar. I find it so interesting that we want to link creativity with mental illness... or with demons... perhaps because there is often that sense of drivenness, even craziness about creativity. So going back to the original creator.. to God's creation in 6 days... there's something about it that seems crazy, driven... I mean, really, trying to bring order to chaos... trying to create not just a living creature but an amazing multitude of the craziest creatures imaginable... not to mention... plants, fish, stars, planets, and the craziest of all... you and me. Surely out of such creativity, creativity is built into each one of us... and thus it's a crazy gift of God to us that can drive us crazy until we bring it to life in the world, just like God did....
Summer Gypsy said…
Congratulations, Patti, on your new blog! I just posted my 50th post on unshelvedwords08.blogspot.com. It seems like just yesterday on a cold January Sunday that I became a resident of blogland. Please visit me at unshelved words, and I will be back to enjoy your new home, too! I love your banner!!!
Hugs,
Marilyn
Anonymous said…
Visiting your Blog is a delight...great photos, movies, words of caring and art...I would enjoy sharing links. Jan

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