Learning objectives

Learn the fundamental principles underpinning the relationship between creativity and mental health and acquire a general overview of the risks of a superficial and stigmatizing representation of mental disorders in the visual arts.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Psychiatry is a composite discipline, which integrates models, techniques and fields of study relating not only to the area of ​​biologically-based medicine, but also to psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, as well as literature, music and visual arts. Art and psychiatry have always been interlaced because they aspire to represent, explore and understand the emotions, affections, frailties and potential of the human being. The relationship between art and mental health is complex and can be explored by adopting different interpretations, of which we will try to provide an overview. There are countless anecdotes about the emotional suffering of great artists, but how is artistic temperament associated with mental disorders? And to what extent does the creative act stand in analogy with psychopathological experiences? The representation of mental illness is common in art from all eras, and this can help us deepen our knowledge on the subject, but might at the same time generate dangerous clichés. Art represents a universal language, which can improve our understanding of the functioning of the mind, emotions and the experience of illness, as well as a potential support and treatment tool, which enriches our skills as doctors in any field.

Program

- The function of art in the emotional and spiritual growth
- The myth of the mad artist
- Creativity and psychopathological experiences
- Examples of representation of psychopathological experiences in cinema, pictorial art and music

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Frontal lecture, commenting on images and videos

Learning assessment procedures

The lessons will be held from 17:30 to 19:30 in the following classrooms:
​5-19-26 May: Aula De Sandre ​(Lente Didattica) ​
12 May: Aula dal Forno ​(Istituti Biologi​)

Evaluation criteria

Attendance-based eligibility (at least 75% of lectures).

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Not applicable

Exam language

italiana

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