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]
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The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
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