Question

An argument about the relationship between suffering and creativity? Is there something inherent about suffering that enables artist to make great art ?

Answer 1

Hello there! :D

I don't want to give you a copy-paste answer but I am willing to discuss and talk about my thoughts on this idea.

This is a quote from Nicholson Baker in his book The Anthologist:

You have to suffer in order to be a human being who can help people understand suffering.

And this quote is from Aristotle:

Learning is not childs' play. Learning is pain.

Experience and connection result through shared experiences, most of them involving pain and suffering because we live in a broken world with imperfect people. Pain and suffering is ultimatley an outlet for connection. Connection and collaboration lead to new ideas and new ideologies. It leads to creation! Ultimatley, the way a person connects with the world is also the way that a person sees the world. Creativity stems from this, this view of the world. There is something inherenet about suffering that makes great art. Nothing truly beautiful was special because it was beautiful, but because it was hard to make and create. Michelangelo's work wasn't special because he was Michelangelo, but because his art was created through labor and pain and time, all finitie limitations that human beings have. Our sufferings.

The quotes are here to help you see the connection between my thoughts and the questions you presented. Feel free to use them and think about them!

I hope my musings helped and that you have a wonderful day,

Kai xx

Can you tell I want to be a philosophy major? xD