Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by AudioHead (A) on March 01, 2002 at 07:43:56

In Reply to: Re: I take offense at the mad scientist stereotype. posted by caa on February 27, 2002 at 20:41:24:

(roughly paraphrased) by 16th or 17th poet John Dryden. Implying
a thin line. Genius usually thought of as having an intense focus
within consciousness, defined as intellectual in character, but with
talent and temperment often as influential channels of expression.
Scientists, inventors, etc., with proclivities toward rigorous
intellectualism, sometimes - being mortally frail with regard to
application of the Godlike power to create, transform, destroy - falter when
crossing into realms of that power and are destroyed by it. Is
that the premise behind
the "mad scientist", a powerful and common metaphor(?) an infatuation
with because many identify with the dual qualities of insanity and
genius, if only for brief vicarious periods.
Lecter, was he by definition a psychopath? As I understand the
term, he would be both morally and legally responsible for his
actions; thus, although possibly a genius by intellectual standards, would
nevertheless, be deemed sane. - AH