# Stendhal syndrome, anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stendhal-syndrome-anyone/548160 "2010-07-27T08:53:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stendhal-syndrome-anyone/548160/1 "2010-07-27T08:53:52Z")
From time to time, I’m really, REALLY affected by certain pieces of music or art, to the point where I’m pretty much reduced to tears. This is referred to as [Stendhal Syndrome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stendhal_syndrome) and really for me, it only occurs with music; Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring will always do it, as will certain artists like [Anneke van Giersbergen.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavq8rDnJV4) I used to have similar reactions to certain hymns when I was a Christian as well. Anyone else here feels faint in the presence of beauty of any kind? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stendhal-syndrome-anyone/548160/2 "2010-07-27T11:50:36Z")
Fascinating. I am a huge fan of his writing, but had not heard of Stendhal Syndrome in relation to him. Sorry I can’t add much - I have a deep relationship with art and find myself deeply moved in many ways, but have not experienced that physical reaction to that degree. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stendhal-syndrome-anyone/548160/3 "2010-07-27T12:00:04Z")
I’ve had what I believed to be Stendhal’s Syndrome when I first went to Nepal. Not the way you describe it - the phenomenon of being moved by art - but the “rapid heartbeat, dizziness… confusion”. Kathmandu is a riot of vibrancy and noise and just plain _weirdness_, particularly around the temples - thousands of brightly colored pieces of imagery of varied grotesqueness and unfamiliarity. I felt really frightened and quite unwell in the head for a couple of days. I liken it to a form of agoraphobia. I also experienced it to a milder degree during my first visit to Delhi. I also get overwhelmed by some art, but I think that’s a different phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stendhal-syndrome-anyone/548160/4 "2010-07-27T12:13:22Z")
I get this whenever I go to see something at the theatre. There’s just that initial sense of being moved and a little bit overwhelmed by the music and spectacle. Not sure if that’s the same as an emotional response to simply the music, though? ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stendhal-syndrome-anyone/548160/5 "2010-07-28T08:54:44Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I’ve had what I believed to be Stendhal’s Syndrome when I first went to Nepal. Not the way you describe it - the phenomenon of being moved by art - but the “rapid heartbeat, dizziness… confusion”. I’m really unsure of the precise definition, or symptoms. I pretty much equate it with anytime, on hearing or seeing something beautiful, I am no longer capable of carrying on a conversation because I’m totally swept away and unaware of things around me. Is that truly Stendhal Syndrome, or something else? I’m not sure.