Is this true, or had Chaplin fallen for his own mythology? Does a talent for comedy necessitate a tragic life?

This is resoundingly similar to the conclusion of the article on anxiety which I have resoundingly argued against in the appropriate space. It is bull and artificial limitation to believe such a thing and moreover it sets an extremely bad example for would-be artists and, in this case, comedians, to suggest there is merit to such a theory. The answer is no. The answer is still no. The answer is still no and this is clearly a myth that pisses me off to no end.

Not to mention that the article begins with Freud of all things. "Freud gave the theory credence" yes and Oedipal complexes too. And dream interpretation. Let's not forget that Freud is mostly if not all bunk.

It was an interesting article, but it was as artifically full of highs and lows as I'm sure was Dickens' book on Grimaldi. You can cherry pick your artists or your comedians all you want.

Is it a condition of comic genius to be perpetually wrestling with demons?...it would seem so.

Bull, bull and bull. I could name you a dozen writers that committed suicide, that doesn't mean that being depressed is a condition of being a great writer. We remember the tragic stories because they are inherently more interesting than the story of someone who was successful and happy. Tragedy is interesting! A happy uneventful life, one not plagued by tears, sadness, or inconvenience, simply is not.

Also - why is the author even mentioning phrenology? He mentions it's pseudoscience but still brings it up in the article. It might behoove him to mention that phrenology was essentially a pseudoscientific attempt to justify racism.