Bi-Polar Disorder Experiment

[agchristie]

I found this fascinating. I wonder if practitioners would have given the correct diagnosis when presented with the collective artwork!

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-29016340

[islasmum]

I think that if you didn't know that the artist had mental health issues, you would think that it was quite likely, after seeing those pictures - they are very powerful. I have to say that I really like the last picture (Day 5) and find the others very interesting.

[agchristie]

Islasmum, I agree and also liked the last picture. It seemed to capture her feelings very well indeed.

[Zacs-Master]

Are we to assume Goya hade mental health issues
http://eeweems.com/goya/saturn_1000.jpg

Dangerous path to go down I think.

[Zacs-Master]

And hieronymous Bosch
http://www.hieronymus-bosch.org/download-86366-Triptych-of-Garden-of-Earthly-Delights-(right-wing)-(detail-2)-c.-1500.download

[Zacs-Master]

And jackson pollock
http://www.jackson-pollock.org/images/paintings/convergence.jpg

[Daffy6543]

They just look like someone vomited paint on a canvas and smeared it around to me, apart from the last one.

[sandyRoe]

Didn't Pollock kill himself?

[Prudie]

I'm the last to understand abstract art so they don't look different to me. I'm not up on the correct terms either, I see the article states Bipolar used to be called manic depression. I thought bipolar was the new name for schizophrenia or are they related/same thing?

[Zacs-Master]

Yes he did. In a car accident.

[agchristie]

Zacs - not sure how you got a best answer (must have accidentally clicked it!). Anyway, thanks for the pics! In Goya's case for example I wouldn't suggest he had a mental health issue just on account of that disturbing piece of art.

The point I was making is where someone has a diagnosis, how many health experts could identify the condition conveyed through pieces of artwork?

[pixie373]

They're different, prudie. Bipolar used to be called manic depression.

[jno]

Some think Goya did have mental health issues, yes. I don't know that it's a dangerous path, but it's interesting, as long as we accept that it's not like a problem that has a specific answer.

[pixie373]

I don't think artwork by itself is enough to diagnose mental health conditions. But, yes, there must be thousands of historical figures who weren't diagnosed at the time, but would be now.

[ladybirder]

Interesting post agc. Does this mean if I go to the doctor and say I'm feeling depressed, in order to reach a diagnosis he will give me a piece of paper and some paints and ask me to paint what I'm feeling?

[jno]

Pollock was alcoholic, though he was off the drink for a while when he prooduced what some think are his best works.

[pixie373]

To contradict my own post- from that painting, I would say autism, due to all the detail. Although that's a vague impression, not an attempt at diagnosis.

[pixie373]

^^ Pollock's, I mean.

[agchristie]

@ ladybirder - if only it was that simple! GP's would have to have an understanding of art to be able to interpret the subject matter but since art conjures up so many different interpretations it is not feasible ;-)

[wolf63]

I think that the problem is that, in one way or another, every one of us is s-crewed up as a result of genetics and/or our parent's childrearing abilities.

Sometimes somebody can be strange without being ill - it gets blurry. Some people have a child-like view of the world for their entire life - enabling them to be artistic in a way that other adults could never imagine.

Personally I didn't like any of the pictures

[ladybirder]

ag I hope you didn't think I was being serious;-)