Jeff Tweedy on the idea of the tortured artist

The Wilco frontman on making art, dark times and sharing his vision.

For Jeff Tweedy's exclusive performance from the show, visit www.strombo.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jeff
• Tweedy
• Wilco
• Music
• Art
• George
• Stroumboulopoulos
• Tonight

[jademm]

By having intense pain and suffering as a mandatory prerequisite to creating "good" art, it gives the false notion that you can't be an artist WITHOUT chronic depression, drug binges, a dysfunctional family life, etc. I like Jeff's take on it--that great art was created IN SPITE OF the dark times. That sounds infinitely more hopeful and something that everyone can relate to. That said, I do think that a variety of experiences--both good and bad--does lead to richer art due 2 different influences

[PlateauEast]

did someone spit on his glasses or what?

[ThaWinnar1986]

What a cool dude. Love this guy.

[HashtagVideo]

Art in spite of, not due to dark times. I've been uplifted too much by Wilco's music to believe its roots are all dark and depraved!

[theslothmonkey]

@hejafish I agree with your words. Thank you for sharing.

The key to all of this, in an obvious, yet elusive way, is emotion. It is emotion which brings art of the soul. A tortured artist is not a role to ultimately prefer, yet it is something to appreciate as it can be therapeutic for some to relate to and let their emotions surface. ...Important to remember though that the end note ought to eventually be a happier one. -=♥=-

[rotolo]

jeff needs a jay!

[DoctorRazzArea4]

i like that idea

[SeriouslyLeslie]

I love this video. Thanks as usual, Jeff Tweedy. I detest the myth of the tortured artist. I wish it would go away, though I'm afraid it's here to stay. It's kind of part of people's psyches now. Musicians with depression aren't martyrs - they are sick people who need help. Depression is SAD, not glamorous. Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain - these are people who desperately needed help that they didn't get before it was too late. Thanks for putting the truth out there, Jeff.

[tigermilk808]

oh CBC, perhaps I should have watched the whole video before commenting...that's canadian right?

[tigermilk808]

what channel is this show on? is it local?

[jacktala1]

if i may jay. jeff, the next time you get asked a question like that. think of "screen door"...it was that simple but you made it complicated...ugh!

[dezertfox4323]

I love what he does, I dont analyse.