The Creativity Question
What is creativity?
According to Dictionary.com, it is:
1. the state or quality of being creative.
2. the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.
3. the process by which one utilizes creative ability.
My thoughts: I feel creativity describes more an ability rather than a state or a quality. I also feel that creativity itself is not process, the process is creation. Therefore, #2 would be my favorite defintion, and I assume it would be most people’s favorite as well. I don’t think progressiveness is the same as creativity, for being creative does not always involve forward-thinking. For example, one can re-invent an old idea in a creative and original way. (This is debatable, and I will go more into this issue later).
The defintion given for “creative” is:
- Having the ability or power to create: Human beings are creative animals.
- Productive; creating.
- Characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative.
My thoughts: If creativity is a state or quality, then….Is the ability or power to create a gift that we are born with? Or is it a skill that can be learned? If it can be gained, can it also be lost? If so, how can one attain and develop this gift/skill, learn to use it, but hold onto it without losing it? There are many questions one can ask about this topic (especially if you are creative). *wink*
Here are some possible interpretations of creativity, given in the form of metaphors for simplicity’s sake:
1. We all possess an empty cup, which can be filled and drained of water (ideas) from the outside world.
2. Inside our minds, there is a waterfall. It is self-producing, but changes with the seasons, sometimes running dry.
3. Humans are swimming in an ocean of ideas, which we all collectively share but selectively absorb (usually unconsciously, but sometimes consciously).
I think that a great deal of creativity comes from the ability to produce ideas. Most creations (at least human ones) all originally came from an idea. But this leads to a further question, a very popular one: Where do ideas come from? If we draw from my previous three metaphors, we can separate this into an external, internal, and mixed source debate.
The reason I am writing on this particular topic of creativity comes from a question my friend Hazel asked me. She quotes Avidgor Boncheck: “It has been said that a sign of the creative individual is his ability to perceive the differences in similar things and the similarities in different things.” Is this true?
I think for this to be true, certainly both qualities/abilities are required. However, I think this defintion leaves out much of the creative process. Creativity involves by neccesity: expression. You must be able to express your ideas, otherwise the world can never recognize you as creative. You must be able to create. I’m sure almost every human has ideas, even original ones. However, those that we admire for their “creative genius” are the ones who can take hold of those ideas. They don’t let them fly out the door into the rusty attic or basement where useless information goes in our brain. A creative person will get an idea, develop it and nurture it, and allow it to blossom to life through whatever means possible. So I’d like to say that a normal person is one carrying ideas, whereas a creative person is one living an idea. The genius’s are often living several ideas at once, developing new ones, and completing others. They’re like talented chefs: writing down recipes, preparing multiple dishes, and serving guests…all at the same time.
What are YOUR ideas? (And where do they come from?)
November 28th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Andy my good man, what a delightful topic. You’re sure to get less controversy thats for certain -_-
Did I tell you I’m taking a class called “Creativity and Content Development”? Its a great class and Im learning a lot. First off, here is something that is kind of our model for creativity…
The Five Rules of Creativity:
1:If what you are doing isnt working, do something else.
2:Ideas come from ideas, work comes from work. Have ideas, do work.
3:Don’t edit your ideas. It is enough to have them: be sure you have wrung out every bit of them each time, identified what they are, and turned them in every possible direction. This can only be accomplished through disciplined play.
4:Don’t resist anything. Do anything that is remotely interesting to you.
5:What you are doing is supposed to be fun. Have some.
It may not seem like much but that can really go a long way. Anyone can be creative. But its a discipline that often times has to be learned, or at least honed. I really feel like the best thing a person can do to be creative is to do it a lot and often. That is to say, come up with as many ideas as you can for something and work from there. What is it about the pros that makes them seem so great and make it look so easy? We dont usually see their first drafts. Or their second. Or their twenty-second. We only see the BEST one out of countless other less than perfect ones.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
hi andy, you’ve definitely created lots of meaningful ideas in this post.
i especially like your comment on creativity-expression. using my own words, i’d like to say, creativity = “MAKING new things” (see, ESL students have a much simpler mind~). this “making-something-happen” aspect is necessary for creativity and creation. and it reminds me of Revelation 20:5 “I am making everything new!” (do you remember that scene in Passion? when He bore the heavy cross and walked toward His destiny, He said this to His mother… He created a new way of life and living).
creativity also has seasons. it’s best inspired by love, beauty, and loving relationships. those who in love are natural poets and artists. they have tons of new ideas to please their loved ones. and they find countless expressions to praise life.
(nothing personal hehe)
November 29th, 2007 at 12:40 am
How do you “make something new”? This question is difficult for me to answer. I can explain fairly well about where I think my inspirations come from. But that stage where an idea just pops into my head…like a light blub clicking on (that famous image)…I cannot explain how that part happens. It just does.
The skill part comes from being able to engage with that idea. Sometimes it is fleeting…othertimes I can concentrate and focus on it. In some cases, it becomes so powerful that the image/idea becomes molded into my mind…and will stick with me.
Regarding what Hazel said, I think love is a strong source of inspiration, but I want to more clearly define this. It’s not necessarily being in a romantic relationship that inspires (although this, and simple attraction have done so for centuries with the desire to please and impress). But a passion for something that you don’t simply love for what it does or can do for you, but for what it is. It is easy to write a poem for someone you find beautiful on the outside, inside, or both. But there are millions of these, and they get lost overtime because they are so similar. It’s not so easy to express your feelings in writing (or any other medium) for someone or something you would be willing to give your life for, because you believe in them so strongly. But these creations will outlive the others. You can be creative without love, but a loving eye, ear, mind, & heart will be more eager to seek out inspiration…seeds to give birth to new ideas.
From Zeller-Zi: Ch. 8/Section 1: There were once 2 painters who lived on a farm. They took care of over 100 cows and 10 pigs. One painter painted portraits of the cattle. The other only painted pigs. One day, the cow painter laughed at the other, saying, “How you can you only paint pictures of the pigs? There are only 10 of those filthy creatures! Surely you should paint cows like me, for there are so many of them to paint.” The pig painter simply smiled, and returned to painting a picture of one of the pigs. A year passed and the cow painter had painted 100 pictures, one of every cow. But he had run out of cows to paint. The other painter still made pictures of pigs. Curious, the cow painter tried painting pigs. After 2 weeks, he finished 10 pictures, 1 of each pig. The other painter still continued to paint pigs. Desperate, he at last painted 2 more pictures: 1 of the pig painter, and a self-portrait. It was only after painting these 2 pictures that he realized why he would run out of inspiration, while the pig painter did not. In both pictures, they were painting; but the pig painter had a smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He did not simply paint what was there; he painted the many different ways that he saw those 10 pigs. His own thoughts and feelings entered into the pigs when he painted them. They were not simply things to paint pictures of, but sources of life. The cow painter, having reached enlightenment, flew off into the clouds, never to be seen again. Most of the cows overheard his enlightenment, and flew off too. The 10 pigs remained on Earth, immortal protectors of all artists. The pig painter went on to do exhibitions in Paris, London, and New York. He currently lives in LA with a wife and 2 children, all of whom are vegans.
I find that in my own creative work, the more I push myself to face my deepest fears & weaknesses, while embracing my strongest beliefs and values…the more meaningful my work becomes. An artist lives life like everyone else, except they live it with a different awareness. I think a painter can become the brush, the composer can transform into an orchestra, the filmmaker/photographer can become the camera. And then…the things we do…become our art.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:58 am
oh my goodness, i was totally stunned by the ending of the zeller zi story. i’m also curious how jewish artists feel about the protectors? they must be very upset… the painter’s family also have 9 cats, right? *wink*
December 5th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
My Mom had something interesting to say about this topic:
“My college study of creativity was in the recreation (and philosophy of recreation field). Our task was to provide environment, tools, and activities that would spark creative expression–provide a means for self-expression and stir an emotion of life, quiet nerves or bolster the spirit and have fun. Often this activity such as singing, writing, acting, dancing/movement would lead to discovery of a talent or new interest, or was a way of bringing people together. I think we have to allow opportunities for self-expression-perhaps by providing access to beauty in art, nature, music we spark a creative urge that all humans possess.”
Well-said, Mom.