Artists Under the Influence

artists under the influenceIt’s no secret. Many writers have written their masterpieces under the influence of various liquids and chemicals, ranging from fairly innocuous to not. This month, Lapham’s Quarterly has pulled together a list that correlates great works with contributing substances. Here’s a quick sample:

  • Honoré de Balzac, La comédie humaine, Coffee
  • W.H. Auden, September 1, 1939, Benzedrine
  • Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, Double Martinis
  • Ken Kesey, One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Peyote & LSD

via @kirstinbutler


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Comments (3)
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  • i think chemicals can stimulate the creative part of the human brain or something. just a thought. as for my experience as a technical writer, soda keeps my mind sharp and more curious than usual. I can’t seem to notice at times that my mind work on its own.

  • IMH says:

    I find smoking pot sometimes hunders my righting ability. Often I can’t even be bothered to finish my senten

  • Josh says:

    It is important to note that it is not logical to think that drugs lead to great works of art. More likely that great works of art lead to drugs.

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