Creativity and Madness

(Sunday Blooming Reading – April 27th)

Among the many falsehoods long told about creativity, one stands out: the supposed link between creativity and madness—the idea that creatives are somehow crazy.

In this not-so-innocent confusion, we also meet the character of the "genius," wrapped in sayings like “every genius is a little mad” or “they have a kind of brilliant madness.”

All these notions are traditional, meaning they’re birthed by tradition itself—which, like all forms of conservatism, seeks only to preserve itself.
And because its goal is preservation, tradition resists change in any form. It has always been a great depressor of innovation.

Creativity, on the other hand, must represent change. And not just that—it must also be useful.

These are the two essentials of creativity:

• Newness

• Usefulness

Now, think for a second: what could be more dangerous to those clinging to the status quo than something (or someone) offering something different, compelling, and useful?

Out of fear, tradition has always tried to tarnish creativity’s reputation—linking it to madness is just one of its oldest tricks.

But let’s return to the basics:
Something—or someone—is creative when they bring into the world something both new and useful.

Now, does it sound plausible that someone suffering deep cognitive deterioration could create something so complex, so aligned with the demands of reality?
Creativity requires intense clarity—a sharp and sophisticated reading of context to recognize what is truly new and what might actually serve others.

Creativity, far from being madness, is pure lucidity.

Madness is illness; it locks you in a vicious circle.
Creativity is health; it sparks a virtuous one.

The link between creativity and madness was, at its root, malicious.
While today few would outright brand a creative person as “insane,” in the past (and still, incredibly, in some circles today), this link could damage reputations and sow distrust.
Ultimately, it was about discouraging people from practicing creativity at all.

One more thing:
Tradition also tied creativity to the idea of "genius," and again, this did harm.
By making creativity seem rare and exceptional—only attainable by “geniuses”—it discouraged everyday people from seeing themselves as creative beings.

If creativity is the exclusive domain of the few, it means very few will dare challenge tradition at all.

And so:
Creativity is lucidity.
Madness is illness.
And every one of us is creative—because it’s a trait of all living beings, not the exclusive gift of a handful of so-called geniuses.

Sorry, dear tradition: it’s time to relax and let go.