It is no secret that I am both a mental heath champion and Kanye West aficionado. Kanye's music has been the soundtrack to a large majority my life. It almost seems as if his phases of creation are in perfect synchronicity with my journey here on Earth. However, recent events have shown that Kanye has been struggling greatly with his mental health. From the Saint Pablo Tour rants, to "slavery being a choice," to his presidential run, and finally his tweetstorm from last night, it is very concerning to be a Kanye fan these days.
Though he is one of the most publicly criticized figures, Kanye is a truly very sick at the moment. Too many people take his actions at face value. Yes they are shocking and bizarre and he should be held accountable. That being said, dismissing the pathology behind his actions is archaic and simply incorrect.
Kanye has been very open about his struggles with bipolar disorder. He has discussed how his believes his medication hampers his creative process. Many wonderful artists have this same problem. director Lars von Trier attempted to get sober, only to go back to drinking, as he believed his art wasn't as tactful with a sober mind. Kanye is truly a musical genius, and there is always insanity as a portion of having a mind like this. If we look at the great creators of history, such as van Gogh, Mozart, Hemingway, and Poe, they all struggled with their mental health as they pursued the amazing creations. Kanye is no different in this regard.
What is truly disappointing is the amount of cosigning that Kanye's inner circle does for his behavior. Though his family apparently wants him to seek treatment, many people could tell that Kanye is clearly not well. In an eerie parallel sense, it reminds me of the movie Network. Though the main character is clearly not well, a corporate and media driven America uses a clearly sick individual for its own selfish gain. A clip is linked below. Do you spot any similarities?
Before you superficially denounce someone who is going through a clear crisis, ask yourself a couple of questions. Have you ever sent a drunk text or tweet that you regretted? Imagine having that temporary state of cognitive impairment, except for an extended period of time that could last weeks, months, or even years. Would you be able to function well ? Do you think you would possibly do or say anything you regret? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you don't have the right to criticize.
Though he is a controversial figure who has said some jarring comments as of late, Kanye needs help. He is clearly crumbling before our own eyes, and is is so morbid and heartbreaking to watch. Please, all this writer can hope is that you "Wake up Mr. West!"
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