A New Comic Book Confronts Bipolar Disorder, Our Notions Of The "Crazy" Artist

As a long–time sufferer of bipolar disorder, comic book artist Elaine Will never really fit in. "Not even amongst other artists," she says. Will hated being called crazy. Even worse, she hated how people romanticized the idea of the "crazy artist," who turns out masterpieces in a manic state. "The notion of the 'crazy artist' producing their most brilliant work in the depths of madness is more or less false," she says. "It was only during periods of recovery that they were able to create work." Ironically, in order to set the record straight, Will turned to art. Her new book, Look Straight Ahead, features Jeremy Knowles, a teenage boy who suffers a severe mental breakdown. The 17–year–old protagonist–outcast eventually saves himself through the power of art. But while Jeremy's hypomania is accompanied by enhanced creativity, Will makes clear that "the real art comes from editing through the raw, often chaotic ideas dreamed up while manic."Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2013-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #bipolar disorder #brilliant work #record straight #teenage boy

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