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Article on Stendhal Syndrome
We all tend to feel something when we look at art and beautiful things. You might find walking around a museum looking at paintings incredibly boring or you might find that the art would invoke powerful emotions and memories. However, did you know that too much of a good thing could be detrimental? Enter: Stendhal Syndrome.
What is Stendhal Syndrome?
Stendhal Syndrome is a psychosomatic (mental and physical) condition where anxiety like symptoms appear when an individual is exposed to artwork, objects or phenomena that bare immense beauty. This condition was first described by French author Marie-Henri Beyle, better known by his pen name Stendhal. He described his visit to Basilica of Santa Croce where famous figures like Machiavelli, Galileo, and Michelangelo where he suffered from heart palpitations and felt like he was going to faint. The syndrome was not officially named until 1979 by Italian psychiatrist Graziella Magherini who observed the condition in tourists.
Is it a real thing?:
Since Stendhal described the condition centuries ago, cases of this condition have been continually reported up till today. The hospital in Florence reportedly get about 10-20 cases a year, all of them tourists. This condition is not formally recognised as a psychiatric disorder, but studies have shown that certain parts of the brain get excited when an individual gets exposed to art.
My opinion:
I think that strong reactions and emotions to art are as real as any other emotion we feel. The subsequent symptoms that these emotions bring are also very real. However, I do not think it constitutes a psychiatric disorder. I think the excitement of being in a new place surrounded by wonders and lots of other tourists contribute strongly towards the syndrome. I think that it is more of a sensory overload just like when I hear repeating loud noises such as car alarms and ringing bells. Examples can also be seen in concerts where many people faint, or experience anxiety brought on by the stimuli. Similar syndromes have been observed such as Jerusalem Syndrome where people experience delusions upon visiting the holy city or Paris Syndrome where individuals suffer episodes when they find out that Paris does not match their expectations.
Disclaimer: I am not claiming that psychiatric disorders and mental health issues are not real, I am just stating that maybe it’s not just the art that are causing the symptoms.
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