Such a great essay. And you will not be surprised to hear that my next book contains a chapter on THIS. VERY. THING. (though its primary metaphors and references differ from yours, encompassing the scientific revolution, the bloody history of the twentieth century, the Frankenstein myth, and Ray Bradbury's experience of his creative demon muse). Clearly, our respective daemons continue to resonate in close sync.
I am beused with some of the analogies presented here in this essay. Demons as relates to creativity.
Deamons affecting our creative sensibilities. These ideas are born of myths and made up storytelling.
Most will disagree reading this but sorry.
I don’t turn to drugs or alcohol or sexual dementia if I have a slow or down creative cycle. Come on.
Good writers are good because they can tap into our subconscious imaginations and play games with images to devils and demons. This is age old hoodo mambo jumbo. Snake oil. But it’s for the sake of story. Fantasy.
I may be one of those individuals that rarely runs out of things to paint. My muse is not necessarily a woman.by the way, or even a person. It could be a sunset, or thought, an idea on the world.
If, and it is rare, I have an idle period, I don’t rush off crazy into a panic. It means, to me, need to sit back, take a break, move off the subject of art, emerge myself into something else for awhile. This is called rejuvenation. Recharging. Let the mind rest. Not some demons infestation me or loss of creative knowledge or ability. It it a letting go. Taking a breathe. We all need to put the brush or pen down and forget about art or writing.
I don’t go off into a frenzy that I have lost my creative juices for all eternity. All this mythical crap is just to sell books.
Your muse, if you will, is all around you. If one stops pulling their hair out and just relaxes “ It” will present itself. I don’t believe in ghosts, aliens, sprits gods and mysticism. It is a waste of time.
Spoken like a true rational materialist. You may think of them as simply parts of your subconscious, as the essay discusses. I don’t believe in literal demons either. My shadow self does get angry or destructive if I can’t create for too long, glad yours doesn’t, maybe I’m just an asshole. But, respectfully, I don’t consider my approach (and many others’ method) to creativity isn’t crap or a waste of time just because it differs from yours. It’s what works for me and makes my world bearable, enjoyable, even. So, in that sense, not a waste of time.
Clint thanks for the response. For clarity the “ waste of time “ comment related to sitting around worrying about these Imagined or metaphysical demons. The demon within us is “ us”. I do believe in Freud and what he calls the “ shadow self”. To use an extreme example only. I am capable of killing, anger, vindictiveness. Frustration, envy. I think these are the emotions you are referring. But these images; the angst feed into the “ troubled” artist syndrome.. Struggling, starving, losing his/ her muse. Or lose of purpose.
These are the myths and images in books made up by writers that continue to plague artists in the public’s eye today.
We are not alcoholics or drugs addicts or sexually depraved for our muse. YES, I used to struggle. But with knowledge, experience, learning, I happily paint or write. When I hit a impasse , my knowledge and experience get me through. Not my demons. I don’t foam the mouth, swallow potions, howl at the moon. I solve the problem.
These are things of fiction for writers to muse about In their stories.
In one respect it adds interest to what an artist goes to create. That suffering genius within. Tortured. Unable to teach perfection. It makes a great story but ain’t reality. Never was.
You stopped me in an instant and I almost cried. "YES!" I shouted out loud.
BRAVO!
Such a great essay. And you will not be surprised to hear that my next book contains a chapter on THIS. VERY. THING. (though its primary metaphors and references differ from yours, encompassing the scientific revolution, the bloody history of the twentieth century, the Frankenstein myth, and Ray Bradbury's experience of his creative demon muse). Clearly, our respective daemons continue to resonate in close sync.
I am beused with some of the analogies presented here in this essay. Demons as relates to creativity.
Deamons affecting our creative sensibilities. These ideas are born of myths and made up storytelling.
Most will disagree reading this but sorry.
I don’t turn to drugs or alcohol or sexual dementia if I have a slow or down creative cycle. Come on.
Good writers are good because they can tap into our subconscious imaginations and play games with images to devils and demons. This is age old hoodo mambo jumbo. Snake oil. But it’s for the sake of story. Fantasy.
I may be one of those individuals that rarely runs out of things to paint. My muse is not necessarily a woman.by the way, or even a person. It could be a sunset, or thought, an idea on the world.
If, and it is rare, I have an idle period, I don’t rush off crazy into a panic. It means, to me, need to sit back, take a break, move off the subject of art, emerge myself into something else for awhile. This is called rejuvenation. Recharging. Let the mind rest. Not some demons infestation me or loss of creative knowledge or ability. It it a letting go. Taking a breathe. We all need to put the brush or pen down and forget about art or writing.
I don’t go off into a frenzy that I have lost my creative juices for all eternity. All this mythical crap is just to sell books.
Your muse, if you will, is all around you. If one stops pulling their hair out and just relaxes “ It” will present itself. I don’t believe in ghosts, aliens, sprits gods and mysticism. It is a waste of time.
Spoken like a true rational materialist. You may think of them as simply parts of your subconscious, as the essay discusses. I don’t believe in literal demons either. My shadow self does get angry or destructive if I can’t create for too long, glad yours doesn’t, maybe I’m just an asshole. But, respectfully, I don’t consider my approach (and many others’ method) to creativity isn’t crap or a waste of time just because it differs from yours. It’s what works for me and makes my world bearable, enjoyable, even. So, in that sense, not a waste of time.
Clint thanks for the response. For clarity the “ waste of time “ comment related to sitting around worrying about these Imagined or metaphysical demons. The demon within us is “ us”. I do believe in Freud and what he calls the “ shadow self”. To use an extreme example only. I am capable of killing, anger, vindictiveness. Frustration, envy. I think these are the emotions you are referring. But these images; the angst feed into the “ troubled” artist syndrome.. Struggling, starving, losing his/ her muse. Or lose of purpose.
These are the myths and images in books made up by writers that continue to plague artists in the public’s eye today.
We are not alcoholics or drugs addicts or sexually depraved for our muse. YES, I used to struggle. But with knowledge, experience, learning, I happily paint or write. When I hit a impasse , my knowledge and experience get me through. Not my demons. I don’t foam the mouth, swallow potions, howl at the moon. I solve the problem.
These are things of fiction for writers to muse about In their stories.
In one respect it adds interest to what an artist goes to create. That suffering genius within. Tortured. Unable to teach perfection. It makes a great story but ain’t reality. Never was.
Is that a tear of realisation or eureka this is what I am going through ha :)!!
👌