While the term may more commonly be associated with an individual’s behaviour toward and treatment of others, toxicity often begins with how an individual treats themself.

“We tend to idolise artists that refuse to compromise,” cartoonist Lars Martinson observes, but “there’s something to be said for having the humility to allow your vision to be malleable, to recognise that none of your ideas are precious or sacred. By giving yourself the license to experiment and mix things up, you open up the possibility of improving your work in addition to discovering more efficient ways to create it”:

Further Viewing

David Lynch, Pedro Almodóvar, and Denis Villeneuve are living proof that male directors can be commercially and critically acclaimed while exploding the “difficult genius” myth:

Film School: Good Male Directors