do happy artists make crappy art?

[Simon Bar Sinister]

I've run into this debate on a couple of other forums lately, so I thought I'd bring it here.

what say you?

[n0Mad]

I have wondered this myself several times. When I was suffering from depression, I wrote poetry often. Dark brooding stuff. Don't know if it's any good or not, but I was emotionally moved to write often. But since being treated and relatively happy for many years now, I haven't written any poetry at all. Not even sappy love stuff. I'm just not emotionally inspired. I don't feel I have it any me anymore.

[Enishi]

I was going through a stage of very heavy depression and cognitive dissonance when I did most of my writing...

[Scar My Machine]

Good art/bad art is really subjective and comes down to perspective.

That aside, I myself don't feel that being happy would ruin any art. People can either be angry or in a very positive mood and create very good art.

So I say no, being happy does not make crappy art.

[victoriavengeance (1)]

I can only write good stuff when I'm like. rock bottom. hahaha. the rest of my stuff is mediocre. depends on your music style or writing style, though, i know lotsa people who can write good happy stuff. i know i can't.

[Joey Deadcat]

It all comes down to how inspired you are,regardless of mood or mindset. The whole tortured artist and angst thing is so cliched.

[wormsinwombs]

no, I can't even pick up a pencile to draw when depressed and some of my best art was made when I was regulary taking my anti depressents

[Msterbeau]

I'm a firm believer that creativity stems from a form of psychosis. You don't necessarily have to be sad, just wacked in the head.

[Riku Namako]

My shit looks like shit unless I feel like shit.

does that make sense? XD my last few drawings were pretty damn good, IMO, but I was also

recently dumped when I drew them. Its always been like that through the years; When I painted

the walls at city club, the last few I did were the 3 faces (which were replaced with the

skeletons >.>; ), I was just....mildly depressed when I did them initially.

Edited January 24, 2011 by Riku Namako

[DJ Nocker]

It all comes down to how inspired you are,regardless of mood or mindset. The whole tortured artist and angst thing is so cliched.

I agree with this statement.

[Msterbeau]

Just to back up what I said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10154775