Stendhal syndrome

[likethebeer]

Ah, now I have an explanation. This was mentioned last week on the radio program, A Way with Words. Someone asked about an experience she had at the Louvre decades before where she turned around, saw a painting, and burst into tears.

Stendhal syndrome is how they define it. Stendhal syndrome, according to wikipedia is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly 'beautiful' or a large amount of art is in a single place. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choice in other circumstances, e.g. when shopping.

I've felt sort of trippy when I spend any large amount of time at a good art museum (I first identified this feeling after a couple of hours at the Art Institute of Chicago). Hey, you feel like that, who isn't going to like art? And, there is the "bursting into tears" thing at certain songs - and art, from time to time, if you believe it. X )

Comments

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with the terms "high strung" or "kook"?

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I prefer the term "sensitive".

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

I didn't know sensitive implied emotional outbursts. Duly noted and recorded.

How's life?

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Hey - I'm talking a sublime response. I think the artists would be very pleased.

It's going well at this moment. How's your weekend?

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling 80%. Had a road trip today to the desert part of the state. That's always a recharge.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I saw the pictures. 80% is pretty good. I get my days off, and I don't always feel recharged, so I'll take that when I can get it (hopefully I'll get a soul enema working on the Breaking the Habit exhibit).

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

heh.. it was a very bad cold. 80% a few days later is pretty good.

very bad cold

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I thought your 80% was pretty good, too, considering the hell spawn cold.

[wi-c.livejournal.com]

Happens in Florence quite often - I believe the highest rate of syndrome-related hospitalizaion in the worls. They actually WARN you about it in guide books....

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

There's the David syndrome that I've heard about. I don't know if it's the piece itself or the publicity surrounding it. That would also mean it happens around the Mona Lisa, which I've not read about (although there is the occasional desire on some people's part to throw stuff at it, which is why it's behind bulletproof glass now.

Maybe the David syndrome has to do with his big hands.

Weepy

[drunk-bohemian.livejournal.com]

I've had this happen with opera (Puccini) and a particularly stunning Indian meal--the tears being, to my mind, a reaction to the corporal realization of the divine possible.

DB's BF

Re: Weepy

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Music has done it more often. I got teary eyed when I saw the actual print on my icon, but that was because the piece is so sad, and I knew that Wojnarowicz had just died 7 months before (the piece is, in part, about his dying). So that doesn't count so much.

I only burst into tears 2x that I can remember: one was a song being sung by Toshi Reagan; the other time was listening to Beethoven this spring in the Living Room.

I don't think I've wept at food.

Re: Weepy

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Oh - but I would burst into tears often while writing my thesis on Wojnarowicz. That was just connected to the sadness of his passing, tho.