I read this article about Michaelangelo and wondered if Prince has the same function?
Based on what I have read about Prince, I wondered if him and MichaelAngelo have more than Genius in common.


Did Michelangelo Have Autism?
Aloof, Obsessed, Self-Absorbed -- Yet One of History's Greatest Artists

By Jeanie Lerche Davis


Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Wednesday, May 26, 2004
WebMD Medical News


May 26, 2004 -- Classic tortured genius: The great artist Michelangelo may have suffered from autism, new research shows.

The report, which appears in the Journal of Medical Biography, provides a synthesis of new evidence about the famous 16th century artist, renowned for painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

"He was a loner, self-absorbed, and gave his undivided attention to his masterpieces -- a feature of autism," writes lead researcher Muhammad Arshad, PhD, a psychiatrist at Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust in Great Britain.

"Michelangelo met the criteria for Asperger's disorder, or high-functioning autism," Arshad adds.

In his report, Arshad outlines research into the great artist -- taken from numerous works, including notes from the artist's assistant and his family. It all points to high-functioning autism, he says.

Autism is a complex disorder that does not affect intelligence. But it does impact how people perceive and process information. Difficulty communicating, social isolation, a need for control, and obsession with very specific interests are hallmarks of autism. For some people, all this makes daily functioning quite difficult. Others get along fairly well, even attend regular schools.

Michelangelo likely suffered from high-functioning autism, called Asperger's syndrome, says Arshad. Some of his evidence:

The men in Michelangelo's family "displayed autistic traits" and mood disturbances. His family described him as "erratic" and "had trouble applying himself to anything." As a child and young man, he did not get along with his family and suffered physical abuse.


The artist was aloof and a loner. The artist's mentor described Michelangelo as being unable to make friends or to maintain any relationship. He did not attend his brother's funeral, which underlined "his inability to show emotion," writes Arshad.


He was obsessed with work and controlling everything in his life -- family, money, time. Loss of control caused him great frustration. He was able to generate, in a short time, many hundreds of sketches for the Sistine ceiling -- no two alike, nor any pose similar. He gave his undivided attention to his masterpieces.


He had difficulty holding up his end of a conversation, often walking away in the middle of an exchange, writes Arshad. He had a short temper, a sarcastic wit, and was paranoid at times. He was bad-tempered and had angry outbursts.


He rarely bathed, and often slept in his clothes including his boots. "He has sometimes gone so long without taking them off that then the skin came away, like a snake's, with the boots," wrote the artist's assistant.
"Michelangelo's single-minded work routine, unusual lifestyle, limited interests, poor social and communication skills, and various issues of life control appear to be features of high-functioning autism," Arshad concludes.

That's really interesting! I can see where you are comming from-at moments it seems like it could be describing Prince, but i do not believe that prince is autistic. Autistic people tend to be very socially inept which Prince isn't. He seems shy, but can quite easily hold a conversation- as interviews recently have shown. The other major factor is that autistic people tend to show little or no emotions. Judging by his songs, i think it's fair to assume that Prince is a fairly emotional guy!
I'm by no means an autistic expert and i recognise that there are varying degrees of autism, but i don't think that Prince has the symptoms to class as autistic.

[sarcasm on]

to date, prince rumoredly has/has had:

a deformed foot

tourette's syndrome

various drug problems

various psychological problems




...damn. it's a wonder the brotha can live his day-to-day, mmm?

[/sarcasm off]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

didn't he also have epilepsy too?!

FiveFootNine said:

damn, i forgot that one!

Some say that Prince is an idiot savant. Without the savant.

My girlfriend's brother has Asperger's Syndrome. As mentioned in the article, it means the person is high-functioning, though has some symptoms of autism. I can tell you that Prince is nothing like a person with Asperger's Syndrome or any other form of autism.

Autistics also have something else not clearly mentioned in the article (which I can declare simply from listening to his songs, Prince doesn't have), which is an almost complete inability to appreciate the emotions of other people. It's obvious that Prince can appreciate others' emotions and does so on a regular basis due to the romantic nature of many of his songs and the fact that he has been with many women and currently has a wife.

No, Prince is not autistic, just very gifted and a little "different".



.
[This message was edited Wed Jun 2 19:10:13 2004 by mrdespues]

Should he be renamed The Autist Formerly Known As Prince?

SweetTemptation said:

Reported.

SweetTemptation said:

too funny!

Whether Prince is autistic or not, the article on Michaelangelo is really interesting

staten22 said:

HMMM, suspicious, Shiela E has a song called Dear Michaelangelo, coincidence...you decide. Seriously though, i doubt he's autistic

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

... what about those missing ribbs?

Interesting article. Prince's musical ability and sheer output could have some savant tendencies.
But that's about it. Hell, I don't care if he's the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I love me some Prince.
Oh yeah, I'm definitely not wearing any underwear. Time for Wapner.
For those unaware, those were Rainman references.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Are you saying that he hasn't?

squirrelgrease said:

what do reported mean and shouldn't it b squirrelmeat, oh and while i'm at it is that U or Shiela E in de pic?

NO! He is not autistic at all! Autistics don't like crowds and most don't tend to respond to social gatherings...He is shy, that's all!

FiveFootNine said:

I wouldn't be suprised. Lots of creative people have it. I'm creative and have to take medicine to prevent epileptic serzuires. I'm just saying. I'm not after pity or anything. I just take my pill and forget about it, go on w/ the day.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

And a removed rib

LaCoyta said:

i'm creative, and i don't have epilepsy.

all ya'll be trippin'....

No, but Cynthia Rose did.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Don't forget that he's gay too

WTF?

Some here at the org need to go to rehab because they have serious drug problems that seriously distort reality! Maybe you have Autism?

How do some of you come up with these threads?

FiveFootNine said:

Isn't he actually a gay alien with a deformed foot, tourette's syndrome, on drugs causing various Psychological problems including Autism.....

Sowhat said:

we need to start up a list....

P is cleaner than anyone I've ever seen in my life.....

Obsessive Compulsive
Autism

mchotsie said:

bein clean all the time ain't really an obsessive gesture, now....i know lotsa folks who keep themselves up too, and they ain't obsessive-compulsive.

s'more like being high maintenance, if anything.

mrdespues said:

I've never seen a more true post on the .Org. My little brother has Asperger's Syndrome as well, and I can tell you without a doubt that Prince does NOT have any similar type of autism. I co-sign this post big time!

i'm no specialist in the field, but the words they use to describe austistic are the same words used to describe pathalogical narcissism. and being an art historian, i find the quoted article interesting but unlikey. michealangelo's internal anguish came form his being an active and open homosexual in a time and place that simply would not tolerate such a thing.

both are/were undoubtably talented and prince is certainly a narcisscistic of the first order, but autistic.....


i have always enjoyed the speculations and proven links between highly artistic people and mental illness. i find it fascinating.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I know - I was kinda being sarcastic, but you have to agree.....the man is so IMMACULATE and IMPECCABLY manicured, brushed, ironed, dressed, made-up! Much more than many pics of other famous people I've seen