Blog 9 - DRUGS!

I was really glad that we finally got to a chapter that focuses solely on drugs and effects of them individually - whether it be in normal life or creativity. It seems we've danced over a few topics through the semester, but this chapter brought to life some new ideas. For one, Sherlock Holmes did cocaine?! I never knew. I was also interested to learn about different writers, artists, creators, etc. who used drugs to enhance their abilities, and for some (like Poe), lead to their downfall. Would the world accept knowning that Walt Disney did drugs? Is it okay because there weren't laws forsaking it? I think that our culture has created problems for itself by placing such stigmas on natural drugs. I feel differently about synthesized products, and the harder drugs such as heroine and morphine than I do about marijuana or "magic mushrooms", and I wonder all the time if we would look at people, art, and life differently if it weren't shoved down our throats all the time that drugs are bad! I'm not condoning drug use, don't use drugs myself, but look at some of the work that has come out of their use! It's hard to ignore the ability a certain drug might give a person, from music to painting, and I think especially writing. So since there were no laws against narcotics in the 19th Century, we are able to enjoy these creative ventures which in many cases are unsurpassed, even today. Maybe we should loosen up a little? Strike a happy medium? Easier said than done, I realize, but I did appreciate the many topics in this chapter that brought me in to each drug, allowing the reader to see what each might do, positive and negative effects on creativity and life.