I was happy to find that Hughes finally stated some aspects neurological diseases and how brain deterioration can induce creativity in the music and art. I like how he further elaborated his findings with devotional art in most religions, which is produced for a purpose. I was surprised to find that most famous artist like Van Gogh, Picasso, Bacon hold a meanings behind their art which we never associated. Their purpose was to serve as religious service, yet we never put that association with them. Though, when I read this, I began to see a connection. I further liked how Hughes elaborated this with not only Christianity but also the other religious practices out there. I loved how he connected it with creativity that people with neurological problems can hold a dramatically altering stated of consciousness to create something for the purpose that we don’t think of it as. I realized that these things are embedded in our system. For example the mystic poets, the devotional artists, the famous composers and yet we don’t know what mental stated they when they produced their work. Like Hildegard’s visions and how they were similar to the Hindu Prana and people believed he had visions yet now we find that his migraines contributed to his alter state of consciousness.
I also saw the shamanistic connections Hughes makes with the icons and mandalas. I was surprised to read that “the seed of enlightenment within each person is nourished by the process of visualizing and contemplating a mandala, ” and how Hindu tantric art is stylized to emphasize otherworldliness by using shamanist principles of fasting, prayers. (154) I wasreally shocked… so I googled mandala pictures and info and did see how Hughes made the connection with the cosmic energy and the cosmic principles.
http://www.world-mysteries.com/newgw/sci_blueprint3.htm
I also like chapter 12 a lot since it talked about the drug induced creativity but since this was something I was familiar with already it didn’t hold my interest that much. I did like how the magic mushrooms and the fly agaric did appear in the chapter and since we talked about them last class.
Showing posts with label Blog 9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog 9. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Blog #9
One of the main questions I’ve been dealing with throughout the class, and one I suspect others have been thinking about too, is whether or not certain types of altered states are “legitimate.” By this I mean to say are certain things seen and experienced in altered states, such as those experienced by Castaneda, actual events (legitimate) or hallucinations (illegitimate). Sometimes I almost want to believe they are real, and at other times I find myself thinking they’re nothing but chemical reactions within the brain. At times it’s been mentally tiring to consider this seemingly endless question, but it’s also been interesting.
Considering this fact (that the class can be tiring but interesting) another question comes to mind. Where does creativity fit into all this? Is creativity which has been inspired by altered states as legitimate as that conceived in a normal state? Hughes presents two different answers to this question and I think they’re worth exploring.
The first answer is yes; altered states creativity is just as legitimate as normal state creativity. On page 156 Hughes writes, “the mind is visited by energies that demand to be understood.” This is very reminiscent of The Field, in which McTaggart explains that everything, even consciousness, is composed of waves of energy. Assuming this is true, creativity is not necessarily an individual’s creation, but is more accurately that individual’s representation of what he has learned from connection with a universal consciousness. Using this reasoning it would only follow that altered states are simply a tool to access this information. If an idea is just out there, waiting to be discovered, then there is certainly merit to altered states and the creativity they inspire.
However, the above answer is not the only one Hughes supplies. In quoting Baudelaire on page 167, Hughes offers a different opinion: “no man who with a spoonful of conserve is able to procure instantly all the treasures of heaven and earth will bother to acquire the thousandth part of it by means of work. The primary task is to live and work.” Here Baudelaire seems to imply that creativity is something an individual achieves by his own work, not an idea just waiting to be found. He states that creativity through altered states (specifically for him cannabis) is not legitimate because it does not require the artist to “live and work.”
I can see and understand the reasoning behind each argument. On the one hand the first argument seems to make the most sense. There are so many common motifs in creativity from around the world that it seems there must be some sort of common connection. Yet, the individualist within me agrees with Baudelaire that creativity is something which the individual must work for and discover on his own. I’ll not try to guess which alternative is correct, but will just leave it as this; another unanswered question.
Considering this fact (that the class can be tiring but interesting) another question comes to mind. Where does creativity fit into all this? Is creativity which has been inspired by altered states as legitimate as that conceived in a normal state? Hughes presents two different answers to this question and I think they’re worth exploring.
The first answer is yes; altered states creativity is just as legitimate as normal state creativity. On page 156 Hughes writes, “the mind is visited by energies that demand to be understood.” This is very reminiscent of The Field, in which McTaggart explains that everything, even consciousness, is composed of waves of energy. Assuming this is true, creativity is not necessarily an individual’s creation, but is more accurately that individual’s representation of what he has learned from connection with a universal consciousness. Using this reasoning it would only follow that altered states are simply a tool to access this information. If an idea is just out there, waiting to be discovered, then there is certainly merit to altered states and the creativity they inspire.
However, the above answer is not the only one Hughes supplies. In quoting Baudelaire on page 167, Hughes offers a different opinion: “no man who with a spoonful of conserve is able to procure instantly all the treasures of heaven and earth will bother to acquire the thousandth part of it by means of work. The primary task is to live and work.” Here Baudelaire seems to imply that creativity is something an individual achieves by his own work, not an idea just waiting to be found. He states that creativity through altered states (specifically for him cannabis) is not legitimate because it does not require the artist to “live and work.”
I can see and understand the reasoning behind each argument. On the one hand the first argument seems to make the most sense. There are so many common motifs in creativity from around the world that it seems there must be some sort of common connection. Yet, the individualist within me agrees with Baudelaire that creativity is something which the individual must work for and discover on his own. I’ll not try to guess which alternative is correct, but will just leave it as this; another unanswered question.
Blog 9<
How are drugs and or hallucinogens in general able to give us the insight or enlightenment that many have said they achieved. Witht hese two chapters there has been an emphasis to em on creatovoty from what seems to be chaotic and consistent randomness. Throughout our teaching of altered states we have been taught that we can achieve a higher sense of self throught the use of a form of meditation and drugs that produce hallucinogens. I dont want to sound like I am repeating myself but why?
Has anyoene evr considered that maybe shamans who have seen the double helix formation in their visions resembling the patterns of DNA was just coincidence. I see it no different then how ancient egyptian hieroglyphs depicted what many believed to be flying machines and electric light bulbs existing several thousand years before. And coming back to drugs I see where many cultures have responsibility in how and when to take these drugs and what you see from them unlike how people today use them just to get a quick high.
These altered states of conciousness to me is purely psychological. The way we experience dreams at night from the randomness of our mind is no different than how we would experience it from the usage of hallucinogens but only more extreme and or enhanced.
Has anyoene evr considered that maybe shamans who have seen the double helix formation in their visions resembling the patterns of DNA was just coincidence. I see it no different then how ancient egyptian hieroglyphs depicted what many believed to be flying machines and electric light bulbs existing several thousand years before. And coming back to drugs I see where many cultures have responsibility in how and when to take these drugs and what you see from them unlike how people today use them just to get a quick high.
These altered states of conciousness to me is purely psychological. The way we experience dreams at night from the randomness of our mind is no different than how we would experience it from the usage of hallucinogens but only more extreme and or enhanced.
blog 9
So I don't really know how to feel about all this. Nick's story about drugs opening up and making you use more of your brain is definitely interesting. I myself have never been a fan of drugs (expect the stuff I use for medicinal purposes). I think it's a control thing. I don't know. I'm kind of naive when it comes to the topic of drugs. I always stayed away from them, and the people around me who did do them never did them around me.
Half of me disagrees with using drugs to enhance one's creativity. The other half knows that a lot of influential art comes from these experiences. I would not be the same person had these artists refrained from using these drugs. I get that, and I accept that.
I don't pretend to understand the brain and how it works. I tried very hard to keep up with the explanations in the beginning of chapter 11. I had a Psychology course at HACC, but let me tell you...it's just in one ear and out the other. But I try. So while the part of the brain are discussed in the chapters, I looked up their basic functions to give myself a refresher. Despite my limited knowledge and inability to retain information, the mind and its infinite capabilities has never ceased to fascinate.
As I am presenting in class today, I'll just leave you with the link.
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/kinser/Structure1.html
Half of me disagrees with using drugs to enhance one's creativity. The other half knows that a lot of influential art comes from these experiences. I would not be the same person had these artists refrained from using these drugs. I get that, and I accept that.
I don't pretend to understand the brain and how it works. I tried very hard to keep up with the explanations in the beginning of chapter 11. I had a Psychology course at HACC, but let me tell you...it's just in one ear and out the other. But I try. So while the part of the brain are discussed in the chapters, I looked up their basic functions to give myself a refresher. Despite my limited knowledge and inability to retain information, the mind and its infinite capabilities has never ceased to fascinate.
As I am presenting in class today, I'll just leave you with the link.
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/kinser/Structure1.html
Blog 9
This weeks readings (at least ch. 11) remind me of one of my favorite authors. Not in the content so much as it is a look at how creativity comes to be but stories about ways of getting there and reaching into something greater than yourself. Of feeling connected and insync with the world around you and how that can lead you to all varieties of fanciful thoughts. The author of which I speak is Paulo Cohelo. You may or may not have heard of one of his books "The Alchemist" but I really do recommend to every person who can read to take time with his works.
His writings touch on the different ways that people can get intouch with their spirituality- which is a form of altered consciousness. Anyways... I will drop this and get on to my point.
I am sorry to say but I find Hughes to be incredibly hard to digest at times. It is not that his content is hard to understand or anything like that. It is just so dry I tend to loose focus.
That being said, I found this weeks reading to be interesting in that it takes a mixed bag of ideas about consciousness and creativity and throws them all together. There is a touch of the scientific that I found to be a good connection (at least in my mind) to the Field... I read that part about brain damage being able to show a new "life" of sorts in another part of the brain and how it can affect an individual in an artistic way that they previously did not show talent. This got me thinking about the idea of the brain as an antenna and not the memory storage device itself... I think that this is only partly believable. If damage to the brain can have an external affect on an individual, which it does, that shows that the organ itself has its own selfsufficient capablitites... What I think could connect the two(because I do strongly believe in the concept of a social or connected conscious), it the idea that the brain has certain areas that are more receptive to different wavelengths than others. It is a symbiotic relationship of sorts which puts equal emphasis on both components. That would help (me at least) to understand the ability of the brain to share a consciousness of sorts with others, but still find life after injury and even new talents, now that the dominant receptors are dead, leaving room for some of the lesser channels to come in picture perfect.
Back to what I said about Paulo Cohelo. Different paths. Whirling Dervishes, Meditation, Quests, Icons, Etc. It all brings us to a state outside of our normal understanding and enlightens us to different views and knowledges. What we intend to do with those knowledges and experiences all depend on our motives, and that is something that he talks about in his stories that I found related to what we were reading. I found it interesting to explore the idea of WHY people choose to experience altered states. What is their motovation. Then I got to thinking about what my motivation would be and I think more than anything I would like to find solid proof of my beliefs. I am fascinated by the different manifestations of thought, religion, belief, personalities... I would want to look at other states in order to gain a better understanding of how to relate or communicate with the world around me.
Thats about it.
Hannah
His writings touch on the different ways that people can get intouch with their spirituality- which is a form of altered consciousness. Anyways... I will drop this and get on to my point.
I am sorry to say but I find Hughes to be incredibly hard to digest at times. It is not that his content is hard to understand or anything like that. It is just so dry I tend to loose focus.
That being said, I found this weeks reading to be interesting in that it takes a mixed bag of ideas about consciousness and creativity and throws them all together. There is a touch of the scientific that I found to be a good connection (at least in my mind) to the Field... I read that part about brain damage being able to show a new "life" of sorts in another part of the brain and how it can affect an individual in an artistic way that they previously did not show talent. This got me thinking about the idea of the brain as an antenna and not the memory storage device itself... I think that this is only partly believable. If damage to the brain can have an external affect on an individual, which it does, that shows that the organ itself has its own selfsufficient capablitites... What I think could connect the two(because I do strongly believe in the concept of a social or connected conscious), it the idea that the brain has certain areas that are more receptive to different wavelengths than others. It is a symbiotic relationship of sorts which puts equal emphasis on both components. That would help (me at least) to understand the ability of the brain to share a consciousness of sorts with others, but still find life after injury and even new talents, now that the dominant receptors are dead, leaving room for some of the lesser channels to come in picture perfect.
Back to what I said about Paulo Cohelo. Different paths. Whirling Dervishes, Meditation, Quests, Icons, Etc. It all brings us to a state outside of our normal understanding and enlightens us to different views and knowledges. What we intend to do with those knowledges and experiences all depend on our motives, and that is something that he talks about in his stories that I found related to what we were reading. I found it interesting to explore the idea of WHY people choose to experience altered states. What is their motovation. Then I got to thinking about what my motivation would be and I think more than anything I would like to find solid proof of my beliefs. I am fascinated by the different manifestations of thought, religion, belief, personalities... I would want to look at other states in order to gain a better understanding of how to relate or communicate with the world around me.
Thats about it.
Hannah
blog 9
I found the Altered States reading this week to be a good summary of the creative process we have been discussing in class. After reading chapters 11 and 12 of the Hughes book I have come to the conclusion that no matter how many drugs you take creativity comes from within yourself. “Puritanism apart, it is generally agreed that art made while on drugs is often less good than art done “cold.””
A talented musician may choose to smoke pot before he writes or performs a song and this may help the final product, but if the artist wasn’t a creative person to begin with I don’t believe they would be making music. Drugs have definitely allowed many musicians to take there song writing to the next level, but they were already creative to begin with. I guess what I’m trying to say is by taking drugs one is not automatically creative. In many cases I think the drug use gives the artist something to write about and something to build off of. All you have to do is listen to Pink Floyd to hear how taking LSD can expand the subject matter one writes about.
The discussion in class of the fly agaric mushroom was very informative and I never realized how much this mushroom was around us in our culture from the time we were little kids. I was very surprised how the fly agaric was involved with traditions and cultures from people all over the world. It seems that the fly agaric like shamanism is used in some aspect in different regions in the world. It makes you wonder how these things are known by some many people so far apart long before long distance travel was accessible to mankind. It seems hard to fathom that so many of our Christmas traditions are linked to this psychedelic mushroom. After talking about it in class it would be foolish to not think there is some connection between all of our Christmas traditions and the fly agaric. I will never look at Santa Claus and his reindeer the same way. When we talked about the color scheme of a Coke can matching the mushroom’s colors I remembered hearing how the original recipe for Coke contained cocaine and I’m not sure if it has any significance, but I found it interesting.
A talented musician may choose to smoke pot before he writes or performs a song and this may help the final product, but if the artist wasn’t a creative person to begin with I don’t believe they would be making music. Drugs have definitely allowed many musicians to take there song writing to the next level, but they were already creative to begin with. I guess what I’m trying to say is by taking drugs one is not automatically creative. In many cases I think the drug use gives the artist something to write about and something to build off of. All you have to do is listen to Pink Floyd to hear how taking LSD can expand the subject matter one writes about.
The discussion in class of the fly agaric mushroom was very informative and I never realized how much this mushroom was around us in our culture from the time we were little kids. I was very surprised how the fly agaric was involved with traditions and cultures from people all over the world. It seems that the fly agaric like shamanism is used in some aspect in different regions in the world. It makes you wonder how these things are known by some many people so far apart long before long distance travel was accessible to mankind. It seems hard to fathom that so many of our Christmas traditions are linked to this psychedelic mushroom. After talking about it in class it would be foolish to not think there is some connection between all of our Christmas traditions and the fly agaric. I will never look at Santa Claus and his reindeer the same way. When we talked about the color scheme of a Coke can matching the mushroom’s colors I remembered hearing how the original recipe for Coke contained cocaine and I’m not sure if it has any significance, but I found it interesting.
blog nine
I have consistently enjoyed reading the Hughes book and found chapters 11 & 12 to be just as informational and pleasant to read (in a Discovery Channel special sort of way). Chapter 11 was interesting to me because of the information it offered on the brain structure and the idea of collective consciousness. If, according to the text, damage to the frontal lobe causes a loss of identity (149) and creativity can exemplify our identities, then perhaps creativity could stem from the frontal lobe. Hughes states that researchers have discovered that religious and philosophical thinking comes from the temporal lobe, so maybe some creative thought derives from that area. Or, possibly, creativity isn't inherent in those areas, but it is those areas that inspire creative thought (which could be taking place in another part of the brain altogether). Infinite possibilities, but wouldn't it be quite an advancement for mankind if we could figure out if stimulating these parts of the brain could induce creativity? A sort of creativity-on-demand capability? I suppose that this is attempted by some of the substances discussed in chapter 12. Unfortunately, chapter 12 also outlines the negative side-effects of substance use. This may be why Keats insisted on his theory of "Negative Capability" (which was--finally!--explained to me as something similar to meditation; a receptive state); he got the stimulation (or lack thereof) without the "coming down" from a drug trip.
Kandinsky's quote in chapter 11 about sound, colors, and words leading to the ultimate vibration: knowledge, supports the notions in chapter 12 that certain drugs may lend to specific areas of creativity (marijuana to jazz music, LSD to both music and writing, peyote and mescaline to religious experiences, etc.). The quote also underscores the ideas of energy and interconnectedness from The Field. McTaggart's theories are also supported in Hughes's example of the mandalas that have appeared in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions and cultures, as well as in the dreams of Jung's patients. This makes an even stronger case for the existence of a collective consciousness.
I think what struck me the most out of these two chapters, however, was the reminder that it is not the drug or even the talent of the individual that determines creativity. As always, it is the thought (or potential for thought) involved. Hughes's creativity by default (152) makes me think that my lack of talent in any type of "artistry" is not so much a visual-spatial deficiency so much as it is an incapability of appropriate thought (or thought process). What drives creativity is inspiration; "successful" or "creative" artists find this through their preferred form of altered states of consciousness.
Kandinsky's quote in chapter 11 about sound, colors, and words leading to the ultimate vibration: knowledge, supports the notions in chapter 12 that certain drugs may lend to specific areas of creativity (marijuana to jazz music, LSD to both music and writing, peyote and mescaline to religious experiences, etc.). The quote also underscores the ideas of energy and interconnectedness from The Field. McTaggart's theories are also supported in Hughes's example of the mandalas that have appeared in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions and cultures, as well as in the dreams of Jung's patients. This makes an even stronger case for the existence of a collective consciousness.
I think what struck me the most out of these two chapters, however, was the reminder that it is not the drug or even the talent of the individual that determines creativity. As always, it is the thought (or potential for thought) involved. Hughes's creativity by default (152) makes me think that my lack of talent in any type of "artistry" is not so much a visual-spatial deficiency so much as it is an incapability of appropriate thought (or thought process). What drives creativity is inspiration; "successful" or "creative" artists find this through their preferred form of altered states of consciousness.
blog 9
After we finished reading the Hughes text last time I was disappointed. Not from the text, of course, but I was under the assumption that this brief window into Altered States was the only time we were reading this text this semester…but naturally, I was wrong. Chapters 11 and 12 were fantastic (most notably chapter 12). I am enjoying the progression towards the creative states of mind that stem directly from altered states of consciousness. The previous texts we have read this semester have allowed me to view artistic outlets with an entirely new perspective. In the past, I would view a Picasso, or read Kerouac and state immediately: these guys are blowing their minds out with drugs. But I am beginning to understand that the creative minds behind the works I find most dear may have indulged themselves into an alternative universe rather than blasted their mental molecules into oblivion.
What I enjoyed most about chapter 12 was the way the book prescribed various artists drugs of choice. After learning about the individual drugs (and the responses they provoke) it is interesting to view the works they composed while they were on them. I used to read Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, and immediately believed he was smoking marijuana throughout its composure, but the Hughes text assigns peyote as the actual drug. After learning about peyote and the effects it has on our consciousness, the overwhelming “rambling” text is able to be view in an entirely different light.
Another interesting synopsis I encountered was Hughes’ description of marijuana: “The emphasis on music may be significant. Music and cannabis “have the same frequency,” according to some modern musicians.” In addition to this, Hughes states, “Many of the French Haschischins reported the phenomenon of synesthesia, the ability to “hear” colors, “see” sounds.” This is an interesting observation. Perhaps, this ability to “see” sounds is where the source lies for the creation of intertextual harmonization that previously had not been “seen” by composers of the past. Louis Armstrong is noted for his use of cannabis in the Hughes book and if we observe the liberal changes Armstrong introduced in jazz in the 20s, it is possible to correlate his usage of the drug and what is considered by jazz aficionados as “hot”, or “outside playing.” If anyone would like to discuss jazz with me, I can explain this to them or visit the website below for a list of jazz terms. But this concept can be applied to countless musicians. For example; where did George Harrison hear how the sitar could be applied to “rock n’ roll”? Where did Paul McCartney discover the “musical mode” that would provide the vocal line for “Eleanor Rigby”? In a musical sense, he was using a “mode” that was dead for hundreds of years, but he somehow made it “work” within rock n’ roll. By now I’m sure everyone is sick of hearing me introduce The Beatles into nearly every blog, but I feel that it is a necessity. There is not one rock n’ roll group that has changed the course of music more than them. And they were the quintessential experimenters with mind altering substances. For more proof of this, listen to their first album, Please Please Me. No drugs here, with the exception of cigarettes, alcohol, and perhaps barbiturates. Then, listen to either Rubber Soul or Revolver. It is astonishing. From this point on, as they grew in their drug habits it only pressed the limits of acceptability even more.
http://www.humboldt1.com/~jazz/glossary.html
What I enjoyed most about chapter 12 was the way the book prescribed various artists drugs of choice. After learning about the individual drugs (and the responses they provoke) it is interesting to view the works they composed while they were on them. I used to read Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, and immediately believed he was smoking marijuana throughout its composure, but the Hughes text assigns peyote as the actual drug. After learning about peyote and the effects it has on our consciousness, the overwhelming “rambling” text is able to be view in an entirely different light.
Another interesting synopsis I encountered was Hughes’ description of marijuana: “The emphasis on music may be significant. Music and cannabis “have the same frequency,” according to some modern musicians.” In addition to this, Hughes states, “Many of the French Haschischins reported the phenomenon of synesthesia, the ability to “hear” colors, “see” sounds.” This is an interesting observation. Perhaps, this ability to “see” sounds is where the source lies for the creation of intertextual harmonization that previously had not been “seen” by composers of the past. Louis Armstrong is noted for his use of cannabis in the Hughes book and if we observe the liberal changes Armstrong introduced in jazz in the 20s, it is possible to correlate his usage of the drug and what is considered by jazz aficionados as “hot”, or “outside playing.” If anyone would like to discuss jazz with me, I can explain this to them or visit the website below for a list of jazz terms. But this concept can be applied to countless musicians. For example; where did George Harrison hear how the sitar could be applied to “rock n’ roll”? Where did Paul McCartney discover the “musical mode” that would provide the vocal line for “Eleanor Rigby”? In a musical sense, he was using a “mode” that was dead for hundreds of years, but he somehow made it “work” within rock n’ roll. By now I’m sure everyone is sick of hearing me introduce The Beatles into nearly every blog, but I feel that it is a necessity. There is not one rock n’ roll group that has changed the course of music more than them. And they were the quintessential experimenters with mind altering substances. For more proof of this, listen to their first album, Please Please Me. No drugs here, with the exception of cigarettes, alcohol, and perhaps barbiturates. Then, listen to either Rubber Soul or Revolver. It is astonishing. From this point on, as they grew in their drug habits it only pressed the limits of acceptability even more.
http://www.humboldt1.com/~jazz/glossary.html
Blog Oct 28th
The first thing that caught my eye in the reading was the mentioning of Freud. I am interested in psychology and he is a name that comes up quite often. He ultimately hypothesized the separation between the conscious and unconscious mind. He notes that the conscious process may simulate conflict into creative art (149). Later it is notes in the test that consciousness is now seen as more of an operation. It affects certain areas of the brain in response to stimuli. I combined the two ideas and came up with the thought that the “conflict” Freud talks about can be considered as a form of stimuli. Therefore, as result consciousness would respond. If conflict can be simulated into creative art, then it’s possible that creativity lies in the consciousness. Am I making sense?
Today my group is holding the class discussion. I chose to focus on diseases that enhance creativity. Like I said, I am interested in psychology, so I rather enjoyed researching a few common mental illnesses that increase creativity. I focused on frontotemporal deterioration, because it was mentioned in the test. Also, I chose bipolar disorder and depression, because they are such common diseases. I found it interesting that such diseases could result in promoting creativity. If one part of the brain fails, another part of the brain could catalyze activity in another; possibly the creative part of the brain.
William Blake was an incredibly creative man. The test notes that he held the imagination to be the spark of the godliness in humanity (153). Imagination and creativity pretty much go hand-in-hand. I’ve seen several of Blake’s paintings and they are unbelievable. The man has a fascinating and marvelous imagination. The first time I saw one of his paintings was in the movie The Red Dragon, adapted from Thomas Harris’s book of the same name. I believe the painting is titled “The Lady and the Red Dragon” or something of that nature. It was beautiful. His art is seemingly from another world, in this case, a darker world. I suggest checking it out.
Today my group is holding the class discussion. I chose to focus on diseases that enhance creativity. Like I said, I am interested in psychology, so I rather enjoyed researching a few common mental illnesses that increase creativity. I focused on frontotemporal deterioration, because it was mentioned in the test. Also, I chose bipolar disorder and depression, because they are such common diseases. I found it interesting that such diseases could result in promoting creativity. If one part of the brain fails, another part of the brain could catalyze activity in another; possibly the creative part of the brain.
William Blake was an incredibly creative man. The test notes that he held the imagination to be the spark of the godliness in humanity (153). Imagination and creativity pretty much go hand-in-hand. I’ve seen several of Blake’s paintings and they are unbelievable. The man has a fascinating and marvelous imagination. The first time I saw one of his paintings was in the movie The Red Dragon, adapted from Thomas Harris’s book of the same name. I believe the painting is titled “The Lady and the Red Dragon” or something of that nature. It was beautiful. His art is seemingly from another world, in this case, a darker world. I suggest checking it out.
Blog 9
Throughout my years of schooling (elementary school-present), I've always seen certain types of artwork and wondered where the heck the artists got their ideas from. More so when I was younger, I would just find myself staring at the paintings in amazement at how cool most of them were, I never really understood the meaning behind most of them, just knew that they looked pretty awesome. As I started getting older, I realized that a lot of artists were on drugs when creating paintings, music, books etc. Everytime I read a certain type of book or come across a different kind of painting, I think to myself if these artists were on drugs while creating their works of art? Of course, if a story is weird enough.. I just assume that the author was either plain crazy or was tripping on some heavy drugs. But then again, people can still have decent imaginations and creativity without have to be on drugs. Drugs obviously effect people differently, but the authors and artists that came out with some great things, why are we so quick to judge them about their past with drugs? If they didn't commit serious crimes or anything of that matter, why should it be a big deal if they were high at the time they created something?
The whole fly agaric thing is still racking my brain. I never really took notice to how many 'red and white' things are being commercialized these days.. is it still associated with the drug?? Just like how Coke comes out with its special limited edition Christmas bottles that sort of have a trippy design (sometimes).. is that related to that drug? Tons and tons of thoughts run through my head after our class discussion of fly agaric. It kind of blows my mind that it isn't illegal.. I guess maybe because they can't control the places it grows? Regardless, Monday in class was the first time I've ever seen a picture of fly agaric and I still don't understand why someone would want to eat that!!! When the book started talking about marijuana, I immediately started thinking about how people are trying to get it passed, so that patients can use it to maintain their pain to a minimum. That would be an interesting class discussion right there. I liked reading these two chapters because they gave me more insight about things I really didn't know that much about. However, I won't be able to view Christmas the same anymore.. darn you fly agaric!!!
The whole fly agaric thing is still racking my brain. I never really took notice to how many 'red and white' things are being commercialized these days.. is it still associated with the drug?? Just like how Coke comes out with its special limited edition Christmas bottles that sort of have a trippy design (sometimes).. is that related to that drug? Tons and tons of thoughts run through my head after our class discussion of fly agaric. It kind of blows my mind that it isn't illegal.. I guess maybe because they can't control the places it grows? Regardless, Monday in class was the first time I've ever seen a picture of fly agaric and I still don't understand why someone would want to eat that!!! When the book started talking about marijuana, I immediately started thinking about how people are trying to get it passed, so that patients can use it to maintain their pain to a minimum. That would be an interesting class discussion right there. I liked reading these two chapters because they gave me more insight about things I really didn't know that much about. However, I won't be able to view Christmas the same anymore.. darn you fly agaric!!!
Blog 9
"Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies." --John Lennon
I suppose these two chapters were ok. I feel like it is a bit of a repetition and extension of the drug use in Don Juan. However, Hughes brought up a few interesting ideas--fromtotemporal dementia and Negative Capability, for example. Chapter 11 contrasts with chapter 12 because we are told (though we already know) that drugs are not the only way to reach altered states. Meditation, for example, produces a state of Negative Capability, "when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact or reason" (150).
I found the section of chapter 12 regarding LSD rather interesting. LSD is a synthetic drug only developed in the 1930s. These synthetic drugs contrast with the natural ones Castaneda writes about. It boggles my mind how something so unnatural can help people "achieve insights into the universe and themselves, and to deepen emotional connections with others" (171).
But beyond that, I became somewhat interested in ergot--the fungus that grows on rye grains and is a fundamental componant of LSD. This fungus replaces the grain of the rye and up until the 1850's, was thought to be an actual part of the plant. Poisoning from the ergot (ergotism) has two sets of symptoms--convulsive (characterized by nervous disfunction) and gangrenous (characterized by a burning sensation that leads the loss of limbs). The first outbreak, documented in the the Rhine Valley in the 800's, was called the Holy Fire because the people thought that the burning sensation was punishment from God. It is said that, during the times of witch persecution, the highest levels of persecution occured in areas where large amounts of rye were grown. Those persecuted could have had convulsive symptoms of ergotism. More recently, ergot was used for medicinal purposes--like curing headaches and postpartum hemmoraging. However, it was made illegal after the developement of LSD due to substance abuse.
Drugs have been used and abused, both purposefully and accidentally, over our entire history. They help people reach altered states, have visions, and inspire creativity.
I suppose these two chapters were ok. I feel like it is a bit of a repetition and extension of the drug use in Don Juan. However, Hughes brought up a few interesting ideas--fromtotemporal dementia and Negative Capability, for example. Chapter 11 contrasts with chapter 12 because we are told (though we already know) that drugs are not the only way to reach altered states. Meditation, for example, produces a state of Negative Capability, "when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact or reason" (150).
I found the section of chapter 12 regarding LSD rather interesting. LSD is a synthetic drug only developed in the 1930s. These synthetic drugs contrast with the natural ones Castaneda writes about. It boggles my mind how something so unnatural can help people "achieve insights into the universe and themselves, and to deepen emotional connections with others" (171).
But beyond that, I became somewhat interested in ergot--the fungus that grows on rye grains and is a fundamental componant of LSD. This fungus replaces the grain of the rye and up until the 1850's, was thought to be an actual part of the plant. Poisoning from the ergot (ergotism) has two sets of symptoms--convulsive (characterized by nervous disfunction) and gangrenous (characterized by a burning sensation that leads the loss of limbs). The first outbreak, documented in the the Rhine Valley in the 800's, was called the Holy Fire because the people thought that the burning sensation was punishment from God. It is said that, during the times of witch persecution, the highest levels of persecution occured in areas where large amounts of rye were grown. Those persecuted could have had convulsive symptoms of ergotism. More recently, ergot was used for medicinal purposes--like curing headaches and postpartum hemmoraging. However, it was made illegal after the developement of LSD due to substance abuse.
Drugs have been used and abused, both purposefully and accidentally, over our entire history. They help people reach altered states, have visions, and inspire creativity.
blog 9
When I first started to read through the chapters I immediately related it to what we learned about Fly Agaric. When you think about it the Fly Agaric seemed to be related creativity. A lot of the websites I visited had a lot of ornaments and creative things to that were related to the Fly Agaric. Then I really began to rack my brain to see what I could come up with that could possibly be related to the mushroom. I instantly thought about super Mario and the mushrooms in the game that appeared similar to the Fly agaric. Then I thought thing like Christmas and colors which are coincidentally red and white. I also found it interesting on how many different ways there are you can intake the drug. I mean that takes creativity just to think of them alone. It ranged from smoking it to drinking the urine of someone that had ingested it. I could see why some musicians and artists kind of resort to drugs because they seem to open the mind to another world to create things. I guess that some people would need this because if they didn’t use them their work would seem to be very plain or even boring. I then could relate this to Castaneda’s book and how that seemed to be very creative. Even though some of his stories seemed to be outlandish, but I guess they could be true after the reading. When it come down after all the reading and research we done to this point creativity goes hand in hand with altered states.
blog 9
For some reason it blows me away that "we" have managed to target the part of brain that induces creativity. There is an area where musical and visual abilities develop...?..if you have frontotemporal dementia, then you are more likely to be creative. Why is it that the artists are always the demented, weird, drug addicted ones...? Although I resent the stereotype, i guess it comes from somewhere.
What stood out to me the most in Chapter 11 was its title, "Ways to Creativity" It seems that some people are just naturally creative and others not so much. I guess it is proven anyway so why question it, right? I've been around a lot of creative people. I can say that from my experience, creative people are just kinda that way. It is like a way of thinking, its not just about a visual or performing art either, its about all ways of thinking. It seems like an artist or creative person is that way because of the way they think, naturally.
And then comes the next chapter....
I think that there is a very fine line between the experimenting w/ altered states for expanded creative awareness and teetering on the edge of danger.
There is no doubt that drugs enhance, expand and alter your consciousness.
My biggest wonder is why is it that in some cultures drugs become drugs of abuse?
It is most interesting that for some people its a short lived experiement, while for others it becomes a way of life.
Some practices like the ones we read about in Castaneda's book, stay w/in a culture and remain sacred, while others dont.
SOme drugs while introduced to one culture remain in control while in another, it becomes some horrible epidemic.
Is it the media, giving us our ideas and ways to think? Can an entire culture be that dependant on outside ways to feel better?
The Field answered some of these questions for me.
Avital Ronell talks about Heroin addiction in this chapter as a trash body, not in relation to any spiritual consciousness.
W. Burroughs refers to addiction as the enemy and the junk as its means of infection.
Its hard to correlate some of these drugs to a spiritual experience when the outcome is so negative.
I have seen this though, when these experiences take you to death and back; the way its talked about it the book. The result is a deeper level of spirituality. One that maybe cannot be found in the drug itself, but only in absence of the drug.
What stood out to me the most in Chapter 11 was its title, "Ways to Creativity" It seems that some people are just naturally creative and others not so much. I guess it is proven anyway so why question it, right? I've been around a lot of creative people. I can say that from my experience, creative people are just kinda that way. It is like a way of thinking, its not just about a visual or performing art either, its about all ways of thinking. It seems like an artist or creative person is that way because of the way they think, naturally.
And then comes the next chapter....
I think that there is a very fine line between the experimenting w/ altered states for expanded creative awareness and teetering on the edge of danger.
There is no doubt that drugs enhance, expand and alter your consciousness.
My biggest wonder is why is it that in some cultures drugs become drugs of abuse?
It is most interesting that for some people its a short lived experiement, while for others it becomes a way of life.
Some practices like the ones we read about in Castaneda's book, stay w/in a culture and remain sacred, while others dont.
SOme drugs while introduced to one culture remain in control while in another, it becomes some horrible epidemic.
Is it the media, giving us our ideas and ways to think? Can an entire culture be that dependant on outside ways to feel better?
The Field answered some of these questions for me.
Avital Ronell talks about Heroin addiction in this chapter as a trash body, not in relation to any spiritual consciousness.
W. Burroughs refers to addiction as the enemy and the junk as its means of infection.
Its hard to correlate some of these drugs to a spiritual experience when the outcome is so negative.
I have seen this though, when these experiences take you to death and back; the way its talked about it the book. The result is a deeper level of spirituality. One that maybe cannot be found in the drug itself, but only in absence of the drug.
blog 9
I found these readings to once again be coincidental to my life. In the book it talked about how the brain is used in a neurological sense to make creativity and how drugs can open your mind. Well I was sitting at home by myself eating a pizza when my mom and step dad came in asking me how classes went. I said well, my one class we learned about the Fly Agaric mushroom and they said "WHAAAAT?!" I was like yeah the fly agaric mushroom. They asked me what class I was taking and I said Creativity and the Altered States and they just couldn't believe I was talking the way I was. I was like yeah we talk about altered states and stuff and how drugs can make you perceive reality differently. My step dad is a doctor and he began to tell me this long process of how the brain works. He told me that we only use 10% of our brains capabilities. He used LSD as an example, that it actually opens our brain waves more so that we use 50% more of our brains to the point where we can actually hear colors and taste music. After that we began to talk about how there is stuff around us that we just can't see because our brains can't process it fast enough so all this led to a very indepth conversation to say the least.
Believe it or not, my grandpa was a famous jazz trumpet player. He would play in Times Square, Madison Square Garden and won this talent show that is more commonly known as American Idol back then (can't remember the name) He was about 14 or 15 years of age when he started to become famous. He played with the famous Tommy Dorsey band several times. But once he got to see how the real life was like with fame and forture, he didn't want it. He saw how alot of the jazz players were depressed and did drugs such as opium and marijuana. He also realized he was only good to them for the music he played. He said he just wanted to play. He didn't want all the recognition so he turned down all his offers and just went on with his life. But this story came up when I was reading about the whole artist creativity and jazz players. I'm not sure if they consulted drugs for creativity, but for a means to get away from their depression.
However I think you can go both ways about this. You can take my first story for example and say yes, drugs are a way of really opening your mind so that you can come up with something thats going to effect people in a way... or you can just take the side and say that drugs are for people who are depressed and just want to get away from all the stress. But when these jazz artists took these drugs, I can't help but think that they maybe took their experiences and put them into song form.
Believe it or not, my grandpa was a famous jazz trumpet player. He would play in Times Square, Madison Square Garden and won this talent show that is more commonly known as American Idol back then (can't remember the name) He was about 14 or 15 years of age when he started to become famous. He played with the famous Tommy Dorsey band several times. But once he got to see how the real life was like with fame and forture, he didn't want it. He saw how alot of the jazz players were depressed and did drugs such as opium and marijuana. He also realized he was only good to them for the music he played. He said he just wanted to play. He didn't want all the recognition so he turned down all his offers and just went on with his life. But this story came up when I was reading about the whole artist creativity and jazz players. I'm not sure if they consulted drugs for creativity, but for a means to get away from their depression.
However I think you can go both ways about this. You can take my first story for example and say yes, drugs are a way of really opening your mind so that you can come up with something thats going to effect people in a way... or you can just take the side and say that drugs are for people who are depressed and just want to get away from all the stress. But when these jazz artists took these drugs, I can't help but think that they maybe took their experiences and put them into song form.
Blog 9
At first my reaction to the readings was "blah, the artist is partially insane, blah..." and then I got to the part about Mystical Creativity and was pleasantly surprised.
To me the artistic and the spiritual are inseparable. Even the art of Jackson Pollock has an element of spirit that can eclipse even some of the icons. Time and time again I find myself adding symbols related to religion more than to the political or social statement I am making. My recent paintings have been an attempt to make cemeteries fun. It is a series of cemeteries and empty streets done in a very impressionistic fashion. Needless to say the inseparable nature of art and spirit has manifested itself to a whole new level for me. When I look at an old cemetery I don't just see old gray stones, which are beautiful alone, I see a life that once was and in many ways still is.
On the topic of tobacco, coffee, and tea being the choice drugs of creatives at some point in time, I'd say tobacco is returning as an artsy substance largely because the mainstream doesn't want it anymore. Coffee shops are still a creative crowd, and of course they also serve tea. King Charles II, in 1675, tried to close the coffee shops because he was afraid the people were organizing a rebellion. They stayed up late, they did not spend time with their wives. Similar in some ways to the cannabis ban, there was an association with insurrection. At one point there was a prohibition movement similar in some ways to our country's prohibition against alcohol. Needless to say the coffee ban lasted for less time than the alcohol ban.
I have to disagree with the book's association between Picasso and opium. Picasso was one of the few artists who abstained from drugs or used them only in moderation. He lived into ripe old age and remained productive his entire life for a reason. He got his "fun" out of his system early in his life. His style changes have more in correlation with women than they do with drugs. I did not quite believe it at first, but as much as he was the narcissistic, chauvinistic "Picasshole," women did seem to have an effect on his art.
"...assisted by absinthe (a toxic liqueur distilled from wormwood)..." I incorporate this into my blog only to show how much ignorance prevails when things are illegal. At the publishing of this book, the Green Fairy was still imprisoned and the chemists and distillers had yet to prove their case to Uncle Sam. Then I recollect a Monday night of "Death in the Afternoon"... (Hemingway's concoction of absinthe and champagne) and can still remember everything in detail.
I find it amazing how destructive synthesized drugs have been to people. One of the best bits of art, writing, and music inspired by heroin would have to be Sixx AM's Heroin Diaries Soundtrack. The whole thing is basically one big anti-drug add coming from Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue who famously "died" one night after a heroin overdose. A paramedic saved him and the Crue classic "Kickstart my Heart" was born.
Now on a side note, why is there a Transcendental Meditation group below the section on LSD? Granted the era was the same and some of the people were the same, but if I remember correctly the Beatles were trying to get away from drugs at that point in time.
Ergot is an interesting example of how mold can change the world. On an annual basis throughout much of the middle ages and even later, there was a time in Europe called "mad season." Basically everyone in the villages would eat bread and start tripping thanks to Ergot. It has led to theories that the witch trials and werewolves have their basis in a bunch of hallucinating townspeople. Needless to say I feel that such ideas probably were not influenced that much by the Ergot. The burning times had more to do with social dynamics and werewolves can in some ways be traced back to the shamanism we've been talking about for the past few weeks.
I wish Hughes would have told the story of Hitler and amphetamines. There is very strong evidence from his doctor's papers that he was very much into early designer drugs. One story talks about how the leader of Czechoslovakia was hysterical and Hitler had his doctor "fix" him. In some ways it is funny today that everyone from the Japanese Imperial Army to the German Wehrmacht to the later CIA was experimenting with various cocktails today. I say it is funny because now there is a "war" on drugs.
To me the artistic and the spiritual are inseparable. Even the art of Jackson Pollock has an element of spirit that can eclipse even some of the icons. Time and time again I find myself adding symbols related to religion more than to the political or social statement I am making. My recent paintings have been an attempt to make cemeteries fun. It is a series of cemeteries and empty streets done in a very impressionistic fashion. Needless to say the inseparable nature of art and spirit has manifested itself to a whole new level for me. When I look at an old cemetery I don't just see old gray stones, which are beautiful alone, I see a life that once was and in many ways still is.
On the topic of tobacco, coffee, and tea being the choice drugs of creatives at some point in time, I'd say tobacco is returning as an artsy substance largely because the mainstream doesn't want it anymore. Coffee shops are still a creative crowd, and of course they also serve tea. King Charles II, in 1675, tried to close the coffee shops because he was afraid the people were organizing a rebellion. They stayed up late, they did not spend time with their wives. Similar in some ways to the cannabis ban, there was an association with insurrection. At one point there was a prohibition movement similar in some ways to our country's prohibition against alcohol. Needless to say the coffee ban lasted for less time than the alcohol ban.
Proclamation for the Suppression of Coffee-Houses
Source: Ellis, Aytoun. The Penny University: A History of the Coffee-Houses. (London: Seeker & Warburg, 1956) 92.
BY THE KING: A PROCLAMATION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF COFFEE HOUSES
CHARLES R.
Whereas it is most apparent that the multitude of Coffee-houses of late years set up and kept within this Kingdom, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and the great resort of Idle and disaffected persons to them, have produced very evil and dangerous effects: as well for that many Tradesmen and others, do therein misspend much of their time, which might and probably would otherwise be imployed in and about their Lawful Callings and Affairs; but also, for that in such Houses...divers False, Halitious and Scandalous Reports are devised and spread abroad, to the Defamation of His Majestie's Government, and to the disturbance of the Peace and Quiet of the Realm; His Majesty hath thought it fit and necessary, That the said Coffee-Houses be (for the future) Put down and Suppressed, and doth...Strictly Charge and Command all manner of persons, That they or any of them do not presume from and after the Tenth Day of January next ensuing, to keep any Publick Coffee-house, or to Utter or sell by retail, in his, her or their house or houses (to be spent or consumed within the same) any Coffee, Chocolet, Sherbett or Tea, as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils...(All licenses formerly granted to be revoked).
Given at our court at Whitehall, this Nine-and-twentieth day of December 1675, in the Seven and twentieth year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING
"...assisted by absinthe (a toxic liqueur distilled from wormwood)..." I incorporate this into my blog only to show how much ignorance prevails when things are illegal. At the publishing of this book, the Green Fairy was still imprisoned and the chemists and distillers had yet to prove their case to Uncle Sam. Then I recollect a Monday night of "Death in the Afternoon"... (Hemingway's concoction of absinthe and champagne) and can still remember everything in detail.
I find it amazing how destructive synthesized drugs have been to people. One of the best bits of art, writing, and music inspired by heroin would have to be Sixx AM's Heroin Diaries Soundtrack. The whole thing is basically one big anti-drug add coming from Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue who famously "died" one night after a heroin overdose. A paramedic saved him and the Crue classic "Kickstart my Heart" was born.
Now on a side note, why is there a Transcendental Meditation group below the section on LSD? Granted the era was the same and some of the people were the same, but if I remember correctly the Beatles were trying to get away from drugs at that point in time.
Ergot is an interesting example of how mold can change the world. On an annual basis throughout much of the middle ages and even later, there was a time in Europe called "mad season." Basically everyone in the villages would eat bread and start tripping thanks to Ergot. It has led to theories that the witch trials and werewolves have their basis in a bunch of hallucinating townspeople. Needless to say I feel that such ideas probably were not influenced that much by the Ergot. The burning times had more to do with social dynamics and werewolves can in some ways be traced back to the shamanism we've been talking about for the past few weeks.
I wish Hughes would have told the story of Hitler and amphetamines. There is very strong evidence from his doctor's papers that he was very much into early designer drugs. One story talks about how the leader of Czechoslovakia was hysterical and Hitler had his doctor "fix" him. In some ways it is funny today that everyone from the Japanese Imperial Army to the German Wehrmacht to the later CIA was experimenting with various cocktails today. I say it is funny because now there is a "war" on drugs.
Blog Nine
Blog Nine
I enjoyed reading chapters 11 and 12 in the Hughes book because I was able to make connections several times. I took a Brit Lit class last semester and we spent an extensive amount of time on poets such as Keats, Blake, Shelley, and Coleridge. During the class it was briefly mentioned that Coleridge had used Opium, but his drug use was not considered much further. It was not actively considered when analyzing Coleridge’s pieces of literature, and this was unfortunate. I think it is very interesting how Hughes mentions works of literature Coleridge created on Opium (Kubla Khan), and creation of works before his addition (Rime of the Ancient Mariner). My connection here is that I have read both of those works in the past, and I think it would be neat to go back and compare them knowing what was taking place in Coleridge’s personal life during the construction of the poems. Understanding the biographical nature of the creator certainly helps us to better understand the creation (exemplified by Picasso in the beginning of chapter eleven). Furthermore, I think it is challenging and fun to look at a piece of visual art work and make connections to creativity (be it drug use, considering what the author was going through at the time, etc..) and now I understand how important this “creative analyzing” is when looking all pieces of creativity (texts included). I would have loved to have known more about Coleridge’s addiction to opium, Blake’s ability to meditate, Poe’s addictions, Walt Disney’s use of cocaine, jazz musicians use of cannabis etc, when considering all of their different mediums of creativity. In a way it illuminates the works, and forces us to analyze them in a new way.
I appreciated how Hughes separated the kinds of creativity to induced creativity and natural creativity. Furthermore there are several citations supporting both sides. Consider Poe’s use of Opium. Poe writes of premature burials, underground passages, hypersensitive perceptual reactions, and all of these images are directly associated with the opium experience. And isn’t this what makes his stories stand apart from the rest… his creativity being so different from other authors of the time? Therefore even though his stories are being constructed through the eye of the opium addict we still highly revere his works, for their creativity. However Hughes does present the other, darker side of using such drugs to induce creativity. The French poet Jean Cocteau wrote, “With opium euphoria leads the way to death.” Malnutrition, respiratory complications, and low blood pressure are some of the associations with the addiction (163). And as with most drugs to get the same feelings of euphoria the amount of drug use steadily increases as it destroys the body. Certainly marijuana can induce creativity, regardless of personal beliefs regarding drug use, but there are consequences. There are consequences to using heroin, cocaine, mushrooms, acid, and other designer drugs, and I suppose it is up to the creator to decide if a “chemical wedding” (as Hughes cleverly calls it) is how they want to stimulate creativity.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Blog 9: Hughes, Ch. 11 & 12
I like the Hughes book foremost because it sufficiently explains things like “creativity” in a neurological sense. I find the neurological creative process in the brain to be particularly fascinating. It’s a tough thing to understand because we understand it as it relates to us subjectively. At times Hughes’s explanations can be a bit difficult to follow, but the general concept comes through.
I wonder if this neuro-scientific analysis of creativity can explain why some people are (or seem to be) more creative than others. The ability to be creative is different for everyone, but does our individual brain chemistry determine our capacity for creativity? It would be comforting to think that creativity is an ability that can be learned and evolved through the disciplined mind.
I’d like to look further into the idea of meditation as an altered state of consciousness and a gateway to the creative process. It’s what John Keats explains (on pg.150) as “negative capability,” or unfocused attention in which a person intentionally withdraws from normal consciousness into a state of alertness and relaxation. In my experience, it’s sort of like the early stages of sleep where you are still receptive to your environment, but you can feel your mind drifting off. The act of meditating holds great religious and spiritual significance to those who practice it, specifically in Eastern religions. Certain types of meditation, such as Transcendental Meditation, became popular in the West after The Beatles traveled to India in the late 60’s to study under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This technique involves chanting a mantra while sitting with closed eyes and it is one of the most commonly practiced. The chant, or sound vibration which Hughes points out, is traditionally considered to be the first sound vibration of creation. In Hindu meditation, “OM” is the mantra syllable that is chanted in prayer. The idea is that with disciplined practice over a long period of time, one will be able to reach spiritual enlightenment. Perhaps this enlightenment can also lead the way to creative consciousness.
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