sbell1@artic.edu
Date: 09/21/03-03:39:15 PM Z
Hey everyone,
just a few comments on the effect of art on psychopathology. when it comes
down to it, a fairly obvious point is that majority of the population knows
nothing of fine art. they don't care, they don't pay attention. not since
warhol, or maybe keith haring, has their been an artist who was known by the
general population. so if we think about it, someone as obscure as witkin
really only has viewers in the fine art world, and also taking into account
the fact that photography isn't as widely popular in the art world as, say,
painting or sculpture.
it's true that 'psychopaths' may be different than the general population, but
if we look at people like dahmer or gein or james pough, they all were pretty
average people who had relatively tortured early lives. so i would still
contend that they were part of the general population that paid little
attention to the art world, especially someone like witkin.
i think what's mostly been found as a contributor to psychopathology is
problems during early socialization. ie-when someone is young. early
experiences.
sorry, this is way OT, but i couldn't help myself. my art lately has been
dealing with mental illness and such more than anything else.
cheers,
Steve
Quoting Kate Mahoney <kateb@paradise.net.nz>:
> Well, it's a philosophical argument, surely - and relates to the censorship
> issue - if nobody thought Witkin was a genius, evil or not, he wouldn't have
> achieved the level of fame he has. If there are limits, they're the limits of
> what the public will stomach. And btw, I've often wondered about the
> influence of films, t.v. etc on psychopathology, but not art. I think there
> are plenty of ways for psychopaths to get ideas without having to resort to
> the art shelves in the library ;).
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: ARTHURWG@aol.com
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 9:41 AM
> Subject: Re: PS About Witkin Re: Diane Arbu s
>
>
> Yes, I know Witkin is immensely popular-- as well as financially
> successful. But if he's a genius I think "evil" must be the operative
> adjective. Yes, perhaps it's only his imagination that's "psychopathic," and
> that in every other regard he's a solid citizen. But I doubt it. Yes, it's
> only "shadows," as someone put it. But there are limits, don't you think?
> Perhaps Jeffery Dhamer was a Witkin fan. I remember that when the cops
> opened his fridge and saw those silver painted severed heads, Dhamer told
> them they were artworks. And the cops believed him. ...... Arthur
>
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