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Apologies for cross-posting. Melancholy and Creativity, Oct. 12th 2012, Edinburgh Melancholy - since the late 19th century more commonly known as depression - is a condition as old as humanity itself. Since antiquity, writers, thinkers, doctors, artists, men and women of religion, to name only a few, have pondered the causes and cure for the experience of prolonged and often inexplicable sadness. Since Aristotle, melancholy has been linked with artistic creativity, an idea that resurfaced in the Renaissance and again during Romanticism in the 19th century. What do we think about the connection between depression and creativity today? How can creative self-expression help us through periods of illness, mental and physical? This is the theme of a literary and artistic event at the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, hosted by Mary Cosgrove (German Section, University of Edinburgh) on Friday, October 12th 2012. Two sessions, featuring writers, artists, art therapists and medical practitioners, explore the connections between creativity - verbal and visual - and despair. A focal point is the colour blue in painting and writing. Evaluated by some as celestial and transcendent, and by others as dank and deathly, discussions about blue reveal the faultline along which debates on melancholy have traditionally taken place. The German Section, University of Edinburgh, is especially delighted to welcome to this event German writers Angelika Overath (Alle Farben des Schnees: Senter Tagebuch, 2010) and Manfred Koch (Faulheit: Eine schwieriege Disziplin, 2011). You can reserve a ticket online (contact [log in to unmask]) or walk in on the day. It all kicks off at 3.30pm sharp with a literary panel on "Feeling Blue", followed by Irish-Scottish artist and writer Eve Watson's story of the therapeutic role of painting and writing - and the central role of blue - in her journey with and through cancer. All German texts will be read out in English translation as well as in the original. For more information about the event follow this link http://www.mhfestival.com/events.php?display=details&event_id=167 where you can see the programme and download the flyer. Dr Mary Cosgrove Reader in German REF Coordinator DELC and C&SS School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures University of Edinburgh David Hume Tower EH8 9JX Tel: +44 (0)131 6503639 Email: [log in to unmask] -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.