Melancholy Philosophy and Art

Melancholy is a gloomy, zoned out, depressed state of mind. Melancholy is seen as a sickness in psychiatry but as its bad side, could it be beneficial for art and increase productivity?

Edward Munch , Melancholy 1891

The roots of melancholy lie to Ancient Greece. Eventhough the word itself doesn’t take place, in the
Homeros’ Tales some characters show signs of melancholic personalities.
‘’ But one day Bellephron was disgraced by gods,
He was stranded alone at Aleion Plains,
Away from any human interaction, he reduced himself to nothing’’
Serol Teber speaks of Bellephron in a review: ‘’ The attitude Bellephron is a scary proof of mans effort to break free out of the gods shackles. It seems that melancholy is the fate of all man who rebel against the gods since the Tales of Homeros. Bellephron tried to free people from the call that renders them prisoner to gods but he was deserted by the same common man. Bellephron’s extraordinary way of self righteoussness lead him to his lifestyle. This adventure gives strong clues for the reasons of melancholy Bellaphron feels.’’

Domenico Fetti , Melancholy 1620

Researches were conduct in ancient medicine regarding melancholy. Ibni Sina stated that melancholy is seen more often in men, but seen with a higher magnitude in women. What makes melancholy today is the article, Griefing and Melancholy written by Dr. Freud. In the article strong connections between griefing and melancholy were found.

Aristoteles asks: ‘’Philosopher, politician, poet or artist, why all these gifted man are melancholic?’’
Melancholy is seen as a sickness by people who never tasted the feeling, although every person experiences the feeling either severely or light. But not all of us are aware of it. The man adressed by Aristotales are the same man with high awareness. Contradary to what Aristotales said, it’s not the job of these man that defines them as gifted, its the thinking process.

Angela Bronzino , Allegory of the Triumph of Venus , 1546

Either questioning leads to awareness of we question becaouse we are aware, the world is not a shiny place. A questinoning mind who is aware with the touch of reality is bound to have melancholic thoughts. As man questions more questions will form and the cycle goes on to expand our consciousness. Psychologists define a ‘’loop of thoughts’’ for people with chronic depression, which can be linked to melancholy and questioning as reality doesn’t provide as in our dreams and it isn’t easy to make them real. We all have a different way of reacting to it. Mehmet Piskin was a successfull businessman in his thirties, yet he sat on his chair with his whiskey and cigarette and made a long melancholic speech about life and took his own life. Resulting his existiential crisis with suicide.

Substance abuse and addiction, psychosis and suicide rates are higher with artists than any other job. This proves the tie between art and melancholy. Artists are people with questioning minds and they are more sensitive about their emotions. These people search for a way to express their feelings, and thats art. Only by their art they can make us feel what they see. This is why melancholy is productive for artists. Most of these artists are aware of their melancholy and are in acceptance, even enjoying the situation. Often they find themselves leading to melancholy. Since they enjoy it it must be good right? Well what is good?

Thanks for Reading & Hasta La Vista!