Within the artistic literature realm there is the–perhaps dated–stereotype of the tortured, starving artist who is plagued by mental illness and suicidal ideations. In fact, it has been established that being a highly creative individual is correlated with certain types of mental illness and the medical establishment actually does not necessarily recommend engaging in artistic pursuits as a mechanism to heal, although art therapy under the guidance of a professional may be beneficial to understand the hidden motives behind one’s suffering.
Being a highly creative individual does increase one’s chance of suicide and it’s not the healthiest option for sure. Creativity on a professional level necessitates a certain level of solitude that has been explained by medical professionals to be akin to smoking cigarettes on a regular basis. In other words, to be a bona fide artist is to be a bit lonely.
Yet, we live in a society that loves art–particularly music and film. Celebrities, for instance, are worshiped for their creative outputs and, in the age of technology, their creations are easily spread to the masses. However, a lot of times, these celebrities can become lost in that fame and trapped in the whirlwind of that easy admiration. It can quickly descend into a vapid and empty way of life.
The Ivory Tower 
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