I think everyone specializes. Wm and I have about the same IQs about on paper, but I'm a language nerd who has a latent memory for trivia (but can barely remember my coworker's names) and he can't research for crap but is a software engineer and understands physics. There's a ton of creativity in both of us though I'm more traditionally "artistic." It's the same with everyone, we play to our interests and specialize. The people who are transcendent geniuses are more passionate or work harder. It's just a matter of scale.
And honestly, at college, I saw a lot of really "smart" people on paper who were complete idiots at everything including getting their schoolwork done. Without discipline even a genius can't make it.
It is a little bit of a sore spot with me that folks don't get that being artistic is a form of being smart. You'll always hear "Yeah they're smart but can they do Physics?" when it comes to what is considered a qualifier for genius, but you never hear anyone say "Yeah that Hawking guy is pretty smart but can he paint the Sistine Chapel?"
What kills me even more is that there are so many famous geniuses who were not scientists. Beethoven, Van Gogh, Picasso, Mozart, Dali...but those aren't the ones who readily come to mind when the word "Genius" is bandied about. And one of the most famous geniuses of all, Michaelangelo, was both an artist and a scientist!
You're also totally right about discipline, not smarts, being the key to success.
Oh man, Christi, way to pick on the guy in a wheelchair! ;) Just kidding, but I know what you mean.
There are few true "Renaissance men" like Michaelangelo anymore. But I have heard them referred to as geniuses pretty often. It's frustrating because both sides don't really respect the other. You get a lot of art people who feel that the more pragmatic disciplines lack heart and any real connection to "the human condition." And don't get me started on the concept of "selling out" or the "art vs craft" fight.
Also I was thinking DaVinci rather than Michaelangelo, but I think he was a scientist too, so I don't sound totally dumb. But I never said I was a genius!
And honestly, at college, I saw a lot of really "smart" people on paper who were complete idiots at everything including getting their schoolwork done. Without discipline even a genius can't make it.
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It is a little bit of a sore spot with me that folks don't get that being artistic is a form of being smart. You'll always hear "Yeah they're smart but can they do Physics?" when it comes to what is considered a qualifier for genius, but you never hear anyone say "Yeah that Hawking guy is pretty smart but can he paint the Sistine Chapel?"
What kills me even more is that there are so many famous geniuses who were not scientists. Beethoven, Van Gogh, Picasso, Mozart, Dali...but those aren't the ones who readily come to mind when the word "Genius" is bandied about. And one of the most famous geniuses of all, Michaelangelo, was both an artist and a scientist!
You're also totally right about discipline, not smarts, being the key to success.
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There are few true "Renaissance men" like Michaelangelo anymore. But I have heard them referred to as geniuses pretty often. It's frustrating because both sides don't really respect the other. You get a lot of art people who feel that the more pragmatic disciplines lack heart and any real connection to "the human condition." And don't get me started on the concept of "selling out" or the "art vs craft" fight.
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No worries, I won't go into the "Selling Out"/"Art Vs Craft" debates either. Those can get me even more riled up than this "Artist or Genius" farce.
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I hope you feel better soon. Being sick sucks. :(
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