Is sexual repression good for creative use in various art forms of expression?

Question

If your mind tries to push away sexual desire, would you become more or less creative in the work you do?

Does lack of sexual fulfillment play any part at all whether you are writing, sculpting or painting?

Answer 1

Suffering is often associated with great art (and so is insanity). But I think the reason for this connection is this: Suffering can push you to your limits, forces you think creatively (sometimes the alternative is death), and forces various forms of confrontation with yourself. Suffering can also sometimes cause a person to give up, and sometimes this act of surrender allows a release of something that opens up new, creative paths of thought. Sexual repression can induce a form of suffering, and for some people this might be the best option, but it is certainly not the only option, and is probably not the best option for most people. In Tantric practice, sexual abstinence is used to store and channel energy for creative use – often making ones sex life better and more fulfilling in the long run. But notice that this is a conscious choice made in the context of a spiritual journey – usually with the guidance of a guru. Most forms of sexual repression in the world are not like this, and don’t have the positive effects that Tantra makes possible. For most people in most circumstances, sexual repression is a form of social poison stemming from fear and ignorance. Although this sort of socially sick repression can lead to suffering, and thus to artistic creativity, it is something I would NOT recommend because it is really a form of fleeing away from oneself, rather than a path to finding meaning. In general, sexual repression is a form of hiding from one’s self, hiding from one’s potential; hiding from one’s existential anxiety. A far more productive route to creativity is to consciously and purposefully confront one’s fears. Confront your personal mortality; confront your loneliness; confront your addictions and demons; confront your feelings of inadequacy and despair; confront your childhood traumas; confront your sources of shame and embarrassment. These confrontation will induce a form of suffering, but this form of suffering is a healing form – it will not only spur your creativity, but push you along a path of personal growth. For some people, periods of sexual abstinence may play a role in this journey, but it is not automatically a good thing for everyone, and it is almost never the only option available for inducing creativity.

Answer 2

Ideally every teacher, artist, and poet would be a monk or nun (or the equivalent in other traditions), but modern-day life makes this route very difficult.

Life involves compromises. Most get married since otherwise they would feel deprived and miserable sexually, but much more importantly socially.

Now if you are seeking some kind of balance in life, things work out better. Extremes don't work over the long run although they might give one short term success as seen in athletes who take steroids or other elixirs which cause harm.

Artists are the same. I feel very sad that Jimi and Kurt crashed and died. Part of those problems involve a sensitive person who finally looses his/her support system through reactions to the stress of being very creative in a materialistic society which doesn't care much about art in itself only selling beer at concerts, for example.

Answer 3

God no! I am a singer, I like to think of myself as an artist too only I use my voice as a tool and as the ultimate result too.
If I had to go and sing for people and I am full of frustration because of unfulfilled sexual needs, I would be absolutely no good, I wouldn't be able to focus. It can be usefull to get yourself a little frustrated if you have to sing a certain type of music or when you are for instance singing an actual part, like in an opera or something, because then it can help you to get more into the character, if you think that sexual frustration is a main ingredient in your character-to-play, that is. (and really, you'd be surprised at the number of heroinnes with heavily repressed sexuality in musicplays, it's frightening)
So no no no no, you'll just get depressed and end up in your 'black' period, and where's the originality in that?

Answer 4

Sexual energy is the creative energy, as it creates life.

If there is a block in its expression then obviously creative expression is hindered, but when transcended the same energy can do wonders for our spiritual and creative life. Like any energy sexual energy deserves expressing not repression for repression only makes it go twisted and come out in ugly ways sooner than later.

Right expression of creative energy means living life creatively, this means making every choice creative and innovative, leading to a better life

It is the same creative energy that helps you life in new and better ways with passing years, blocked creative energy also means getting stuck in old ways of living life.

Using our creative energy wisely we can begin to create a new life for ourselves this very moment on.

Answer 5

May be you have mistaken the sexual energy

It has been proved beyond doubt that those who think of sex are more creative than who take sex just like anything.

there have been numourous examples where sexually inclined people giving out best form arts.

Answer 6

I suppose it depends on your personality. Obviously, some have found artistic outlets for their feelings where sexual expression was denied. For example, Monks have given us tremedous artistic creations.

Answer 7

initially maybe. but ulitimately your creativity would shut down from lack of input. sexuality is one of the most basic motivators we have, if you deny it, you deny yourself. that's not something you can do and remain an artist. it would be far better to indulge yourself.

Answer 8

Your life has an effect on your work. If you happen to be not getting any right now, then yeah, I guess it would have an effect. If you purposely avoided sex so that you could be artier, then I think that would be pretty fake.