There are millions of alcoholics in this world. Artists are among them. Creativity is not a cause for alcoholism, artists just get more coverage then say a truck driver or a store clerk. Alcoholism does not spring from a personality or a career problem.
Many people point to Van Gogh as the perfect example of an artist who was creative because of the stress and angst in his life. But Van Gogh was not at all productive during those times. It was during the quiet moments in his life when he was most creative.
As an artist and a scientist, I suggest backing up the statement with some facts about the number of artists with alcohol problems versus other segments of the population. You make some good lifestyle suggestions.
This is truly a generalization and an exaggeration. Your conclusion that artists drink to take off the edge of excessive creative energy is offensive. You're most likely capitalizing on documented cases that make some artists more visible than the general population. A group of alcohol-binging folks represents the entire population, not just, and surly not mostly, creative folks.
If you really want to help artists, then begin by avoiding offensive generalizations.
I'm afraid I think you are making an extreme generalization. I don't think "artists" have any more propensity toward alcoholism than, say, pilots, service personnel, unemployed persons, in general, or just about any one else. I take offense to this. I have been an artist for over 49 years and associate with many artists, who, by the way, do not have alcohol problems.
Marilyn Ponty Salzano
10 Years Ago
Ithaca, New York
There are millions of alcoholics in this world. Artists are among them. Creativity is not a cause for alcoholism, artists just get more coverage then say a truck driver or a store clerk. Alcoholism does not spring from a personality or a career problem.