Pixelated Semantics

The schizotypy inventory

The SMH is running another one of those 'research-based' stories that seek to link creativity and mental illness, often by the most covertly dubious of means. They report on a study that looked at the 'personalities of artists and poets and discovered they shared some traits with the mentally ill', which also included a 'schizotypy inventory'. I'm also sure that 'traits of the mentally ill' could be used to produce similar findings against politicians, journalists, and in fact probably any other overdressed ape that shares the human gene pool and who seems to present an attractive target for pointless discussion. 'Never said no - Jack Kerouac' is the picture caption used, which makes for a sexy tag but completely misrepresents the man's character (did they interview any surviving partners? No.) This type of 'research' often seems to have more to do with discrediting those most engaged in open criticism of society than offering insight into creativity and sexuality. The 'study' deals with an unspecified 'sample of visual artists, poets and schizophrenic patients' among 425 people - not enough to extrapolate such vivid conclusions, but all the better for depicting poets as beasts, it seems.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 10:28 am ::