This is the second part to this entry.
When I talked to a friend about the Alice Walker quote, she had this to say: "Artistic expression often originates in craziness. Some people are so disturbed that their only form of expression is artistic. So, as long as there is expression, craziness has value."
Yes, as long as there is expression, craziness has value. But who's to say there will be expression? Who's to say that you will come out on the other side of losing your mind? What if you get caught in the craziness? You've lost your mind and you can't get it back. What if, instead of having a positive growth experience, you become a danger to yourself and others? Craziness, a loss of control, can be life threatening. Why would I ever put myself in such a position? Why would I experiment with mind altering drugs? Why would I crave a lack of control?
Devastating. Devastated.
What wisdom is gained from losing your mind? Why is the mad dog considered wise? I suppose self-awareness is a form of wisdom. Is there anything else to be gained? Do you become more aware of the world around you? And if you do, what can you do with your knowledge? The mad dog does not escape its madness except through death.
It comes back to expression. You have to be able to express yourself, meaningfully, through the madness, or else it's lost.
And what if you don't like what you've discovered? Maybe the world is bleak and there's nothing you can do about it. Then you have a desperate madness. And expression becomes even more hopeless-- would you even desire to express yourself? Wouldn't you be likened to a doomsday prophet? And in your desperation, how ineffective would you feel if no one believed you, dismissed you because you were mad? It would be impossible to convey any important message. Now, if you've discovered the beautful and profound, then you've found art, and art is an expression that people are willing to accept. Although, some may argue that true art is not accepted by the masses.
Maybe true art carries a message that the masses are unwilling to accept, they are reluctant to entertain the thoughts required to understand the are as it is presented.
How depressing. Yes, madness may be freeing. Mind-expanding. A voyage of self-discovery. But also terrifying, dangerous, and agonizingly painful. I think it might be a bit claustrophobic, to lose your mind and yet be trapped inside it. I honestly never want to experience anything like that.