Do drugs make artists more creative?

Question Music

Do drugs make artists more creative?

by Shawn Amos Posted November 04, 2009 02:15:33

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Kait123 January 23, 2010 07:36:36 (edited)

Answered: No
I've been drawing since I was two, and recently took up painting. Usually my best friend, (who is an avid weed smoker, and recently started doing shrooms) and I will paint together. The other night she said that doing drugs is what influences creativity, and that "anything that is great in the world (art, literature, movies) was created by someone who was on drugs." I think this is completely idiotic. I do not do drugs and do not need to because I possess something called talent, and I have that natural creative gene and artistic ability. In fact it's cheating in a way, like using steroids if you're an athlete. If drugs did actually make people more creative, then anyone who uses drugs can be an artist and I fully agree with tifftiff07- maybe people who actually believe that nonsense have caused their minds to be so permanently altered that they aren't intune with reality at all and are totally delusional... they just say that drugs make people more creative as a way to justify their drug habit.
tifftiff07 December 09, 2009 02:36:40

Answered: No
I hope you learn something from my story,
today in art I had my sketchbook left open and a fellow classmate looked through it and kindly commented on my art, yet only a few minutes later he gave a speech on how much better of an artist you could be if you smoked weed, and how 'straightedge kids' can't paint for sh*t, of course this bugs me, seeing how he just commented on a 'straight-edge kids' artwork. Maybe people just don't have a grip on what feels like art and what just looks 'sick' when you're high.

Da vinci knew what it was about :P
3M0xK1D December 07, 2009 19:23:58

Answered: Yes
they give an insight to another world in our own conscience!
Toastgee December 01, 2009 21:37:29

Answered: Yes
I think that some drugs can make you more creative and willing to do more then if you are not on them :P
catfish31015 November 16, 2009 22:40:11

Answered: No
Can you repeat the question????
g4 November 16, 2009 21:41:10

Answered: Yes
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mixxintime November 16, 2009 19:40:13

Answered: No
i think drugs are more of a conduit for an artist, artist are likely more emotionally plagued by static surroundings and repetition. Drug use basically isolates the users mind from daily reality providing some type of tunnel vision blocking out everything else but the art. creative artist are likely not as focused and somewhat fragmented, you can have an musician that plays by sheet music this is a mathmetical minded likely sober individual. then you can have the spontionous creative artist that uses the drug as a tool to block out everything else because the distractions without the drug destroy the emotion and kill the attention span. The musician that paints by the numbers is more likely a copy of somthing previously seen. sometimes the pain in life is just too much to sing or paint without the distraction from that reality. so they dont make anyone creative users are only self medicating so that they can develop a complete thought without interruption and channel their emotions.
EroCentrique November 16, 2009 19:00:46

Answered: Yes
First of all.......most of you all sound like a bunch of self-righteous, pompous idiots that probably don't have a creative bone in your bodies to begin with.....and on TOP of that most of you are current users of some sort....but you're also liars which are the WORST kind of addicts to be around.

I don't believe that anyone is negating the fact that drugs (depending on how used) can and most likely WILL have a negative affect on your body, mind and soul.....but.....that is TRULY not always the case!

I would not wish the horror of drugs on anyone that was weak and did not have the wherewithal or the sense enough to implement the substance of choice responsibly.

There are experiences that you do have under the influence of some substances that do alter your mind state in such a way that your creative process is truly enhance. It is a documented fact that most of your artistic heros were under the influence and some that currently produce art regularly use the substance of their choice and it does not make them a pariah to/within society.

Jimmie Hendrix is considered the best if not one of the best guitarists EVER....there are notes and phrasing that he created that to this day have been acknowledged to be advanced and transcendent in nature. Not to say that the human brain is no...

First of all.......most of you all sound like a bunch of self-righteous, pompous idiots that probably don't have a creative bone in your bodies to begin with.....and on TOP of that most of you are current users of some sort....but you're also liars which are the WORST kind of addicts to be around.

I don't believe that anyone is negating the fact that drugs (depending on how used) can and most likely WILL have a negative affect on your body, mind and soul.....but.....that is TRULY not always the case!

I would not wish the horror of drugs on anyone that was weak and did not have the wherewithal or the sense enough to implement the substance of choice responsibly.

There are experiences that you do have under the influence of some substances that do alter your mind state in such a way that your creative process is truly enhance. It is a documented fact that most of your artistic heros were under the influence and some that currently produce art regularly use the substance of their choice and it does not make them a pariah to/within society.

Jimmie Hendrix is considered the best if not one of the best guitarists EVER....there are notes and phrasing that he created that to this day have been acknowledged to be advanced and transcendent in nature. Not to say that the human brain is not capable of producing that same level of talent....but it's not likely.

Aaron Sorkin, Writer and producer of the West Wing, caught in the airport with crack cocaine, mushrooms, marijuana, etc., explained that he had found his combination of substances that were integral in his writing process and creation of not only that series (2 Golden Globes and 200+ other awards) but also many other award winning/nominated series & movies......his only problem is....he got caught!

Being a artist myself and also college-educated, intellectual, business owner....I stand as an example of those that have not taken the straight mayberry path through life and have had a phenomenal time doing so! I have no regrets about the decisions I have made. No, I did not lose my shirt financially.....no I did not require rehab to function.......no I have never been arrested for a drug-related offense......yes, most of the individuals in my immediate circle have and continue to enjoy substances every so often and they are ALL productive members of society.

I would like to believe that I am intelligent enough to discern and make decisions that will ONLY benefit my life as a whole.

True, music does sound better and more expansive after a hit of some decent quality pot and true, stimulants may give you that added boost of energy or affect your pleasure centers in such a way that you may produce a higher more ethereal level of art.....it's ACTUAL fact!

I am not encouraging children or anyone for that matter to experiment with drugs but I will say that until we begin to address these issue realistically and rationally there will always exist a subculture that may in fact affect one of your family members or children due to your lack of understanding.

Whoever proposed this question MUST have been high!

cut the B.S.

(more)
kyle November 16, 2009 18:35:35

Answered: Yes
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BAD VIC November 16, 2009 18:23:41

Answered: Yes
Unfortunately, they do by providing the artist with an alternate perspective than sobriety. Artists are constantly looking for stimuli to give them creative inspiration. The problem with these substances is that, after awhile, it becomes the usual as opposed to the alternative & ceases to inspire. At which point, they just try to take more to induce the same creativity when they should actually try sobriety because it will have taken on the form of the alternative. All too often, however, they forget about the creative part & just want to get wasted.
Jay November 16, 2009 18:06:41

Answered: No
Drugs may temporarily make a person more creative, but like kicking up the voltage on a light bulb, all you really serve to do is burn it out sooner.
yatut November 16, 2009 18:01:14

Answered: No
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The T November 16, 2009 16:56:50

Answered: Yes
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Mr. Rodgers November 16, 2009 16:22:21

Answered: No
reality sucks, enjoy life through modern chemistry. thats what all of my doper friends were saying back around '78. reality sucks. at least mine does. i've been chronically ill since birth. but recreational drug usage usually causes more problems than it solves. i can't imagine masking your true self with drugs would make you a better singer or musician. i was into everything except heroin, and i quit,cold turkey, the day i found out was going to be a father. that was 29 years ago.
San60 November 16, 2009 16:21:20

Answered: No
If you are creative drugs can only hurt you. Some people use their experiences with drugs as a song wirting topic but you could come up with many topics without destroying your body and mind with drugs.
wailer November 16, 2009 16:15:38

Answered: Yes
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Tony November 16, 2009 16:07:34

Answered: No
Pain and suffering, when creatiively expressed has been the source for much art. Artists tend to be hypersensitive and prone to abuse of mood altering substance. Eventially the alcohol/drugs take their toll and addiction and sometimes overdose/suicide is the result. The list of creative indivuduals that took this route is endless, Hemingway, Poe, Doyle ......on and on.... One absurd example : Can LSD enhance creativity? Yes. Will continued use and abuse destroy that creativity? yes, yes, yes..
Justin November 16, 2009 15:46:47

Answered: No
Before anyone could answer this question we must first discuss where this music comes from. Musicians hear music / songs in they're head all the time, I know I am one of them. These are not songs that have ever been written or heard. Yet they have words.. Not much different than hearing voices except for with a little rythym and a melody. I honestly believe that none of these songs are due to my brains creativity. However they do come from somewhere. But this question seems no different than asking if drugs help the voices that crazy people hear be more appealing to the mass public? Probably not going to make any difference at all really. Drugs effect the brain... The brain does not effect music, for example many many many musicians have played right through sets correctly playing thousands of notes and thousands of words that all end up into music and lyrics. Yet they dont miss a not never sing out of key and its a perfect performance. I am willing to bet no musician can get messed up on drugs and remeber and or pull of anything like music having to remeber that many things. Music is special. I do not believe drugs help nor hinder the creation aspect of it.... Its the being to messed up to stand up and play before its a problem.. Exactly why these guys stay in they're addiction so long. They have an amazing tallent that they can do either on or off drugs..
motorfingers November 16, 2009 15:28:40

Answered: No
Impairment cannot improve functioning. Some may feel that reduced inhibitions and such increase creativity, but, which would you rather have at your party: a witty drunk or a sober satirist? Which, if recorded in sound or video, would you be more likely to view again, and provide as entertainment to your friends?
Fef November 16, 2009 15:13:46

Answered: Yes
But drugs also make artists more dead.
+1
RxDr November 16, 2009 15:07:34

Answered: Yes
Short answer, Yes! The person is of course already creative; the genius/talent is within them. Many begin after the fame starts --parties, different apperances, etc., and for a time the gift they have is enhanced or heightened (note for a time). Continued use leads to abuse and then the burn-out begins, the talent seems lost ...that is until they burn-out and pass away or get help to clean-up and the talent sometimes is re-discovered. Take a look at the artists --painters, poets --from centuries back as well as some of those noted here like Clapton. Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix passed away.
tanya November 16, 2009 15:05:45

Answered: No
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+1
Phd November 16, 2009 14:58:38

Answered: No
I think it is possible that drugs make an artist think they are more creative. But then drugs can make one think they are superman and fly off a building. By my survey of works put out during "drug years" the work pales in comparison. At least this is true for the dozen or so artists that I have actually studied (Lennon, Aerosmith, et al.)
+1
Hayne November 16, 2009 14:48:24

Answered: No
If you need to loss touch with reality to create then I suppose drugs could do that for some people. For the vast majority it simply lowers the quality of the creation. Maybe a glass or two of wine or beer to relax might be alright, but if you shouldn't drive, your art suffers.
+1
Frank_M November 16, 2009 13:36:11

Answered: No
It starts because the adulation gives these sociopaths a feeling of entitlement. As their arrogance is fueled by it, so does the delusion that they will not succumb to the power of the drugs. Their "artistry" does not improve, only the illusion.

In other words, they were jerks before using drugs, they just proved it by start taking them.
Purplehasze November 16, 2009 13:21:30

Answered: No
It gives the iilusion of betterment. They do not make you better. The reality is they make you worse.
+1
Alembic November 16, 2009 13:20:29

Answered: No
Drugs make a musician deluded into believing that it is good when it really binds up the soul and robs them and the fans of what it could be
Eclipsed November 16, 2009 12:59:34

Answered: Yes
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+1
Harvey November 16, 2009 12:55:28

Answered: No
If they need the drugs to be artistic then they are not true artists, the drugs are.
carol November 16, 2009 12:44:20

Answered: No
Creativity is a factor one is BORN with. It cannot be created by substances or any other manner. If it ain't there, it ain't there. All creative people go through periods of more or less creative thinking and drugs cannot turn the creative faucet on when it is at a dribble. In a drugged state someone may think they are more creative, however when they are sober later they can see the work was only mediocre.
Cilla *Banana King* November 04, 2009 09:43:27

Answered: Yes
Of course.
+1
Brandon November 04, 2009 04:09:40

Answered: Yes
Only for a small amount of time. Then it makes it worse.
+1
nightlight November 04, 2009 04:05:47

Answered: Yes
Well, they can. It depends on the person, the drug, how much is taken, what the quality and strength are and a lot of other factors. Drugs are just one way of altering one's state of consciousness and experiencing altered states of consciousness feeds one's imagination just like traveling to strange and differen places does. And a well fed imagination is one that is more productive.
Purpleh... to nightlight November 16, 2009 13:25:26

As a former drug user I can tell you for a fact no it does not work. By altering your state of consciousness you no longer have the ability to create. As far as those he have gotten lucky. Well even a blind squirell gets a nut once in a while.
nightlight to Purpleh... November 22, 2009 01:39:37 (edited)

All you can tell me, or anyone else for that matter, is about your own personal experiences. And if it doesn't inspire your imagination, I feel sorry for you.
I'm a former drug user too and I said what I said from my own experiences and what other drug users have told me. And altering one's state of consciousness doesn't destroy the ability to create - at least not in most people. Some musicians have told me that for some musicians, when they get high they become totally usless while when other musicials get high, they display an incredible touch, an amazing ability to improvise, and imaginative and creative powers that are incredible.
Things that affect how a drug will affect a certain individual are his general state of physical health, whether he has been getting a sufficient amount of sleep and excercise, how good his diet is, what his mind set is at the time that he uses the drug, what his surroundings are, which drug he is using, the quality and amount of the drug he is using, how he uses it (smokes it, drinks it, eats it, injects it, snorts it, etc.).
Khuwro November 04, 2009 02:21:08

Answered: No
consider that most of the people in the art business get high and most of the art that it's sold today is just crap..
+1
nightlight to Khuwro November 04, 2009 05:40:42

Yours is a fallacious argument. If someone gets high and getting high allows them to atttain an altered state of consciousness and the altered state of consciousness releases their natural creative ability, and their natural creative ability is lacking, they will not be able to creat art of quality. They will only be able to create art of merit if they had the natural talent to do so in the first place; drugs only make a good thing better and a bad thing worse.
There's a lot that I could say about why most of the art of today is crap. But I will have to leave that for another time.
Khuwro to nightlight November 04, 2009 19:46:09

well I was referring mainly to music..anyways let me tell you:I play bass myself and I'm pretty sure (guess why) that playing a instrument while having alterated perceptions is pretty impossible (at least play it the way it's meant to be played)..i just think that all of that "drugs make talent come out" is just crap.In the end these are just random extemporary thoughts 'cos there's no way to prove any point about this particular thing (as well as there's no way to really define what's art)
peace ^^
+1
nightlight to Khuwro November 07, 2009 03:45:54

Most drugs, specifically marijuana, effect different people differently. Some people have a real hard time playing a musical instrument while stoned or find it impossible. For others, being stoned seems to allow them to play unbelievably well. I've heard this from many professional musicians. And, as far as being stoned goes, the same thing can be said for how it affects the performance of any activity.
+1
♥ §öññ¥ Wï†h å £ïrê£l¥ ♥ §¢... November 04, 2009 02:20:56

Answered: Yes
Yes, unfortunately.