Artists vs Madmen

Why we celebrate one type of "visionary" or "seer" but not the other . . .

“Some men see things as they are and ask, ‘Why?’ I see things that never were and ask, ‘Why not?’” — Robert F. Kennedy

“I agree with Robert.” — Charles Manson (or any other madman) in response to RFK’s statement. 

“Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide . . .” — John Dryden (from Absalom and Achitophel).

Artists vs Madmen (Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash)

Artists vs Madmen: a Vignette . . .

“That’s amazing,” said the boy, in awe. “How did the artist know how to paint that, when it doesn’t even exist in real life?”

His father nodded thoughtfully and stared into the painting, as if searching for clues that could provide an answer to the boy’s question.

“Some people see things that others can’t, or won’t, see,” the father replied at last. “That’s where the word ‘seer’ comes from. Or the term ‘visionary.’ These are people who see things, or have visions of things, that most people don’t see, and then they draw or paint them, so that other people can see them too. We call people like that ‘artists.’”

The boy thought for a moment before asking, “Are the things they see real?”

The father nodded. “Some folks, like the ancient philosopher Plato, would say that, not only are the things artists see with their minds real, but they are even more real than the things we see with our physical eyes. The paintings of great artists speak to us in a deep way about what it means to be a human being. People from very different times and places, living in very different cultures, and speaking all kinds of different languages, are all able to understand the messages these artists share through their art.”

Later, after they left the museum and were walking towards the train station, they passed a wild-eyed man walking the other way, gesturing frantically and shouting at some unseen adversary.

“Why is that man talking to himself?” asked the boy.

“God only knows,” replied the father, shaking his head. “That is a madman. Madmen see things that aren’t there, or if they are there, the rest of us cannot see them. People like that are psychotic. That crazy fool is so out of his mind, he probably doesn’t even know what he’s saying or who he’s talking to.”

The boy made a sour face and looked up at his dad. “So what’s the difference between an artist and a madman? Both of them see things that nobody but them can see.”