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 peo…