Both mad and genius are difficult terms to define. Almost anyone can fit on this list. Here is mine:
I knew that he was crazy before I read the obituaries, but I did not know how far he had gone. His life is both extremely fascinating and tragic. Take for instance his antisemitism. His mother was Jewish, and perhaps his father as well. Add a hefty dose of conspiracy thinking. He enjoyed 9/11. At the same time, a brilliant chess player. That brilliant chess player equals genius is perhaps a stretch, but given that genius is defined broadly, I think he fits in the category.
2. Mike Tyson
My favorite heavyweight boxer. I recently watched a few fights from early in his career and it is fantastic to see his perfected peek-a-boo boxing style combined with extremely hard punches. Later in his career he relied mainly on knockout punches. The mad part? He also rapes, bites ears, betrays people, etc.
3. Count Olaf
Perhaps not a genius in the traditional sense. His disguises and brilliant plans to get the Baudelaire’s money are very creative. He is crazy for sure as he lacks empathy and suffers from mood swings - a psychopath with bi-polar disorder perhaps.
4. Lee “Scratch” Perry
The Jamaican music producer. The Upsetter burned his studio because Satan was there. He now lives in Switzerland.
5. The Emperor aka Palpatine aka Darth Sidious
The Emperor had planned so many steps in advance that it is almost ridiculous. He knew how to take over the Senate, manipulate Anakin into Darth Vader and build a galactic empire. Without the Emperor’s scheming in the new Star Wars movies they would have been completely unwatchable.
Did I miss anyone?
Recent Comments