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"Few subjects have been more intriguing and more puzzling than that of genius, a very rare but very powerful human phenomenon: From time immemorial people have suddenly come on the scene who have incredibly superior mental capacities and the ability to see things in a totally new way, to contribute useful and original things and ideas, and to change the course of history. To be such a person, endowed with highly unusual gifts and so noticeably different from ordinary or normal people, imposes great responsibility as well as stress not only on these individuals themselves but also on those who are close to them, interested in them, or affected by them: their parents, siblings, friends, teachers, co-workers, spouses, and children. Although geniuses may have serious psychiatric problems, little has been done to study them psychologically." "An interdisciplinary conference was the foundation of this work. There was a desire to explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of being a genius, and to bring things to a more concrete level by focusing on one particular genius, viz. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was a highly successful child prodigy, and was encouraged, taught, and controlled by his musician-father. Despite his amazing capacities as a boy, he ran into serious difficulty as an adult, partly because of his complicated and rather ambivalent relationship with his father, partly because of his unlucky marriage, and partly because of changing socioeconomic circumstances in eighteenth-century Vienna." "Contributions are from psychologists, physicians, historians, musicologists, psychiatrists, and musicians and range from fairly extensive surveys (e.g.. the special characteristic of geniuses: the genius-madness controversy) to some quite specific problems (e.g. the limitations of medical practice in Vienna at Mozart's time: the psychodynamics of his family). In addition to the issues mentioned here, the volume also features a panel of outstanding performing artists who talk about their own childhood and professional experience as highly gifted and somewhat exploited people." "This collection will appeal to parents, teachers, psycho-therapists, artists, musicians, scholars, and others who are curious about what it means to be a genius and what it was like to be Mozart. The book may also stimulate some thinking about how to help people who have the qualities of genius and run into subsequent difficulties as a consequence."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This collection of essays, presented by an internationally known team of scholars, explores the world of Vienna and the development of opera buffa in the second half of the eighteenth century. Although today Mozart remains one of the most well-known figures of the period, the era was filled with composers, librettists, writers and performers who created and developed opera buffa. Among the topics examined are the relationship of Viennese opera buffa to French theatre; Mozart and eighteenth-century comedy; gender, nature and bourgeois society on Mozart's buffa stage; as well as close analyses of key works such as Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro.
This national bestseller from celebrated novelist and memoirist Dani Shapiro is an intimate and eloquent companion to living a creative life. Through a blend of memoir, meditation on the artistic process, and advice on craft, Shapiro offers her gift to writers everywhere: a guide of hard-won wisdom and advice for staying the course. In the ten years since the first edition, Still Writing has become a mainstay of creative writing classes as well as a lodestar for writers just starting out, and above all, an indispensable almanac for modern writers.
Child prodigies have been observed in a range of disciplines - particularly music, mathematics, chess, and art. The question of what makes a prodigy has long been controversial. Some have dismissed the notion of giftedness, arguing that most famous prodigies had strong parental, cultural, and environmental influences that helped them develop their extraordinary abilities. One recent theory suggested that anyone could achieve outstanding success in whatever endeavour they wanted with a minimum of 10,000 hours of practice. Nevertheless, many studies of prodigies have suggested that there might be strong underlying cognitive differences, regarding their use of short-term versus long-term memory, spatial memory, imagery, and language. Whatever the arguments - for those interested in child development - prodigies remain a fascinating subject of study when considering questions about creativity, intelligence, development, and the impact of nature versus nurture. This books breaks new ground in presenting the first scientific exploration on the topic of musical prodigies. It brings together research from a range of disciplines, including psychology, neurobiology, and genetics, to provide a thorough exploration of prodigious talent. In addition, the book includes fascinating case studies of prodigies and also looks at their long-term development into adulthood - many child prodigies have had problems making the transition into adolescence and adulthood. Musical prodigies will be required reading for anyone interested in child development, music, and the arts
High ability individuals – gifted students, prodigies, geniuses and twice exceptional students – are a group with enormous potential to have an impact on the advancement of different occupational fields, as well as the lives of others in society. The Career Decisions of Gifted Students and Other High Ability Groups is the first ever scholarly monograph devoted to an examination of the career decisions of this group. Drawing on extensive research, it provides fresh insights into the history, the influential factors, and the processes associated with the career decisions of gifted students, prodigies, geniuses, and twice exceptional students. Of relevance to researchers, psychologists, counselors, teachers, policymakers, and families, it also provides possible directions for future practice, to allow for the optimal support of the career decisions of these highly able individuals.
Library Journal Best Reference 2009 Educators have begun to recognize that identifying and accommodating students who are slower to learn may leave behind those who learn rapidly and think creatively. The nature of intelligence, the sources of innovation, and the ways to nurture special abilities are now topics of great interest to scholars in a wide variety of disciplines and to the general public. Policymakers, ranging from school board members to leaders of nations, must also make practical decisions about how communities and societies will treat their brightest, most promising students. With more than 400 entries, these two volumes review research findings on giftedness, talent, and creativity and their effect on education, training, science and the arts, government policy, and everyday life. The Encyclopedia of Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent provides a balanced, objective assessment of the various perspectives on the nature of intelligence, innovation, and optimal states. This state-of-the-art resource covers all major facets of the field, including achievement motivation, artistic ability, creative personality, emotional intelligence, gender differences, genius, intelligence testing, learning styles, minority underrepresentation, multiple intelligences, musical ability, prodigies, scientists, self actualization, thinking skills, and more. Key Themes Assessment and Identification Creativity Studies Cultural Issues Education Eminent People Exceptionalities Intelligence Neuroscience and Genetics Populations Programs and Interventions Psychological Issues Talent Domains Theories and Models Key Features Provides a balanced and critical discussion of the controversies that have animated research and theory making Clarifies which grouping and instructional strategies promote the best outcomes in achievement and social/emotional development of gifted children Helps educators make informed decisions about the identification strategies and the curriculum models that best meet their students′ needs Contains thousands of pertinent facts from the fields of education, psychology, sociology, and the arts Evaluates policies that have hindered gifted children and makes a persuasive case for appropriately challenging and differentiated education Examines how giftedness, creativity, and talent were defined in the past and how current meanings have emerged.
The Social and Applied Psychology of Music is the successor to the bestselling and influential The Social Psychology of Music. It considers the value of music in everyday life, answering some of the perennial questions about music. It is required reading for anyone seeking to understand the role of music in our daily lives.
"Madness can afford the individual certain resources and abilities that are not available to others. The fantasy life, free flight of ideas, distortions of reality, and heightened senses . . . offer a unique perspective on the world." —From the Introduction Why do some extraordinary individuals overcome mental anguish and produce brilliant creative artistry that is often enhanced by their madness? New York Times best-selling author and noted psychologist Jeffrey Kottler explores this fascinating question in Divine Madness. His book is filled with the compelling stories of emotional turmoil that many great artists have undergone as they struggle for success and survival. Jeffrey Kottler writes about the dramatic and tragic lives of cultural icons Sylvia Plath, Judy Garland, Mark Rothko, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Charles Mingus, Vaslav Nijinsky, Marilyn Monroe, Lenny Bruce, and Brian Wilson. In this riveting book, Kottler highlights the personal story of each of these extraordinary individuals and analyzes how they struggled to overcome their emotional hardships. Divine Madness clearly differentiates between those who surrendered to their illness, often taking their own lives, and those who managed to endure and even recover. Kottler details how their profound psychological issues affected their lives and work, their great productivity and success, and how they strove to achieve some kind of personal stability. The fascinating and brilliantly told stories in Divine Madness help us to find meaning in the incredible lives of these artists. They also serve as an inspiration for those who are grappling to rise above their own challenges and limitations and express themselves more productively and creatively.