Melancholia : The Western Malady

In this episode of The Mad Genius Thesis Podcast, we explore Melancholia: The Western Malady by Matthew Bell, an in-depth look at how melancholia has shaped Western culture, art, and philosophy from ancient Greece to the 19th century. Bell challenges traditional scholarship by examining melancholia’s methodological nature, its ties to self-consciousness, and its cultural evolution. How has melancholia influenced the creative process, from philosophy to literature? What role does self-scrutiny and individualism play in shaping the tortured artist archetype? And how have capitalism and medical science altered our perception of melancholia over time? Join us as we unpack the deep connection between mental suffering and artistic brilliance, tracing the ways in which melancholia has fueled some of history’s greatest creative minds.

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