For centuries, the idea of the “tortured artist” has haunted our understanding of creativity, from Aristotle’s musings to Romantic myths of madness and brilliance. Yet modern science paints a more complicated picture. In this episode, we explore why Renaissance masters often thrived on discipline and social stability, while contemporary writers and poets show unusually high rates of mood disorders. These struggles may fuel productivity and emotional depth without guaranteeing better work, leaving the link between genius and mental illness unresolved. The story traces a persistent paradox: that suffering can accompany creativity, but rarely explains it—and may be neither its cause nor its cost.

Robinson, Andrew, 'Genius and madness', Genius: A Very Short Introduction, Very Short Introductions (Oxford, 2011; online edn, Oxford Academic, 24 Sept. 2013), https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780199594405.003.0005