Disturbing art a sign of mental instability?

[Trivea]

So, first of all, I draw. I hesitate to call myself an artist because I've never been paid for it, but I've drawn in my spare time since I was a child. Since I was about eleven or so, my artwork has sort of taken a leaning towards the macabre; I like designing zombies, for one thing, just because they're an interesting experiment in anatomy and that sort of thing.

Recently, I had an acquaintance tell me that drawings with macabre or disturbing undertones (or as the outright theme) is a product of mental instability - she told me that, because of the themes of my drawings, I'm more likely to become a mass murderer or something. Apparently, I'll also never be able to get a steady job after college.

I'm not worried about this. However, it did make me think, and I wanted to ask you Escapists about it: do you think that any sort of artist's work is a reflection of them to the point that you can make a psychological profile based upon it? Have any of you who draw, or write, or use any other sort of artistic outlet, been told something like this?

 

[Hitokiri_Gensai]

From what little i know from psychology, it CAN be a sign of it, but its not always, bu then i dont know a whole lot about this kinda stuff.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

I'm not good at drawing, like at all. But, I like to draw as a release, I draw my emotions or whatever's in my head at the moment. They're usually dark, but not really disturbing. Sad maybe? I'd describe my drawings as "lonely", which I'd also describe myself. So, yeah, I believe they can be a reflection of yourself, but I highly doubt you'll turn out to be a serial killer just because you draw some "disturbing" stuff...

 

[Trifer420]

Maybe channeling it into artwork is fine, rather than let it fester in your mind. But I don't know anything, sorry.

 

[Klumpfot]

It might be, but so what? We need more mental instability in this world! Come join the dark side, we have cookies!

 

[bluepilot]

Some people with psychological problems may use art to express how they feel. Sometimes these drawings can take macabre undertones depending on how the condition affects someone. However, not everyone with psychological conditions will express themselves through art, or if they choose too, express themselves through the macabre.

Some people also have an innate ability to understand the darker side of life. They can produce macabre drawing people they can connect and understand the darker feelings of humanity without ever having to experience them.

So, I do not think that drawing macabre things by itself would be a sign of a psychological disease. However, if you have any other signs and/or worried maybe you should have a word with your doctor.

 

[photog212]

So all he artists that painted demons on walls of churches during the renaissance must have all been serial killers.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

Am I the opposite? I have a mental illness, yet my art is cheery and sweet. Barely a hint of darkness in it.

I would be very doubtful of anyone who claims to be able to psychologically profile someone simply based off their artwork, anyway.

 

[SonicKoala]

"Instability" is a bad word to use, unless of course your drawings have crossed the line between mildly disturbing and "Burn it in a fire" disturbing. If you enjoy the macabre, that doesn't mean your unstable - it just means you're a little quirky a.k.a. interesting. Unless, of course, after you finish drawing things, you go and torture small animals or something. In which case, I sincerely hope you don't live too close to me.

 

[Canus]

I've heard of social workers using childrens' artwork to analyze their psychological condition, but I haven't heard of the same techniques being applied to adult artists. Several serial killers were known for their disturbing drawings, but the vast majority of people who make weird art are not serial killers (as far as we know).

 

[Serving UpSmiles]

All art is expression, what is being expressed though is bloody confusing if you don't ask the guy.

 

[JesterRaiin]

So, first of all, I draw. I hesitate to call myself an artist because I've never been paid for it, but I've drawn in my spare time since I was a child.

Idea of rich artist is quite new one and it's pure perversion i guess.

As for your question : there's very, very, very long distance between "being interested in darkness" and "mass murdering". People known for creating very dark and disturbing content were often quite nice and peacefull idividuals.
For example : go read a biography of H.P.Lovercraft.

Also, your aquitance is prejudiced, portentous and without any doubt suspicious character. There's a strong probability she's projecting her inner problems onto you.

 

[tharglet]

Someone being a zombie fan I don't think is really a sign of being disturbed, especially what with all the zombie games and so forth that are floating around. I'm not a psychologist, but I don't think drawing zombies is all that disturbing, unless it's one of the macabre aspects of zombies that attract you to them. Stuff like PvZ zombies are hardly disturbing lol.

And for disturbed people not holding down a job - lol. Yer, there are plenty out there who can and do . Ofc, people with very distinct mental problems can't, but being somewhat a nutter isn't always a barrier.

Often art does express someone's emotions (which can be the thing that compels you to draw), but then again, people draw the things they like. For me, it's a mix.

 

[McMullen]

That's a lot of assumptions for her to make. If that's her customary way of talking to people I'm willing to bet she'll do more harm throughout her life than you will.

The mind is not that simple. There's a reason we have the saying "there's no accounting for taste". Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if it were true that people with violent histories or mental instabilities are more likely to produce disturbing imagery. On the other hand, psychopaths can be some of the nicest, charming, and charismatic people you ever meet, and I can't believe that being damaged or unstable is a requirement for liking zombies.

I don't know you or your history, but I do think that your art style tells people as much about you as my long, wispy hair and infrequently trimmed beard tell people about me: Just enough to form a completely inaccurate first impression. People who accept that impression as the truth without bothering to observe any further are likely to not be worth your time.

 

[Craorach]

I was told similar things about the themes of the stories I wrote as a teenager, and the RPGs I played.

Fair is fair, I was pretty disturbed at the time and can still make people uncomfortable with my sense of humor and imagination.

It can be a sign of worse to come... but sometimes it can just be a dark imagination or a passing phase.

 

[Angerwing]

Well, is your art thematically disturbing as well as visually unsettling? If it's just ugly zombies, that's not really a warning sign, but if you have disturbing and overly violent themes, it could be indicative of some urges. Then again, it could mean nothing. That kind of psychology is only really helpful if someone has gone through extreme trauma in their life which you are aware of. If their art deals with situations similar to that, it's a clear indication of cognitive distress.

I feel that she's just spewing pop psychology in an attempt to seem smart.

 

[Mikkaddo]

So, first of all, I draw. I hesitate to call myself an artist because I've never been paid for it, but I've drawn in my spare time since I was a child. Since I was about eleven or so, my artwork has sort of taken a leaning towards the macabre; I like designing zombies, for one thing, just because they're an interesting experiment in anatomy and that sort of thing.

Recently, I had an acquaintance tell me that drawings with macabre or disturbing undertones (or as the outright theme) is a product of mental instability - she told me that, because of the themes of my drawings, I'm more likely to become a mass murderer or something. Apparently, I'll also never be able to get a steady job after college.

I'm not worried about this. However, it did make me think, and I wanted to ask you Escapists about it: do you think that any sort of artist's work is a reflection of them to the point that you can make a psychological profile based upon it? Have any of you who draw, or write, or use any other sort of artistic outlet, been told something like this?

macabre art is no more likely to make you into a mass murderer than playing videogames is. The simple fact of the matter is that your art leaning toward the macabre being a sign of ANYTHING depends on what the inspiration for it is. If the entire inspiration is the exercise in "anatomy" as you put it, then it's scientific, logical, it's not emotional or developmental, and thusly it doesn't mean SHIT about your job prospects. If anything it makes you analytical, and therefore more likely to get a job (assuming you go into the engineering field of course).

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Well, most artists tend to put their mind out there with their art so maybe it could be.

EDIT: I remember now.

That most great artists have had some sort of mental instability anyways. If you really wanted to make a living of your art the bat-shit crazy would be the best way to go

Most people will probably praise you and say you're just "misunderstood" by the commonfolk

 

[Rabish Bini]

The Safe School's Initiative Report came to the conclusion that, of those who committed serial murders in schools, the one linking factor was expression of violence in their own work, be it writing/drawing/whatever.

It can be a sign. But the vast majority of times it's not.

 

[Soviet Steve]

Yep, just like listening to rock music will cause you to murder everyone around you, or how video games will make you violent. Or violent TV etc.

We've been down this lane a million times over already.