The following is an assignment I had for an upper level communications class (COM 442 Identity, Performance, Human Communication) with Jennifer Linde.
There are three parts to this paper:
1. Define creativity. Think about what the word means in general as well as what it means to you.
2. Explain your own creative process. Consider times when you have been creative and describe those in this section. How did you develop your creative process? How does creativity influence your role as a student? Etc...
3. How might you use a creative process in your future life?
Defining Creativity
What is creativity. It's interesting to me how people either define themselves as creative or don't. As if it is black or white, with no gray area. If that were the case, then what is the minimum threshold one would need to achieve to be able to call themselves "creative". What and how do we each see each other when it comes to creativity. If we consider as well, how we or someone comes to decide that we are creative has quite a bit of perspective to it. Something we might do on a regular basis and seem quite boring and doldrum could be perceived as creative to another person and vice versa. Many times when this happens, it is because we see in someone something (or see them do something) that we either find extremely interesting or that we don't believe we or those around us could do ourselves. It also many times refers to someone that sees something from such a unique perspective, that they are able to address a problem or challenge in a way that's never been done before. Or maybe at first no one sees it as creative, but years later - people look back and think "Genius!". What is creativity? Those are just a few of my thoughts.
For me, my solution-based creative process seems to occurs in one of two ways. It is either the result of consciously thinking about something other a given period of time, or in the process or working something, this new "creative" idea or perspective suddenly comes into view. This new view then changes how I might approach or have been approaching the problem.
The non-solution based creative process (the one that is more of something that's created, not as a solution, but something that is artistically creative) doesn't seem to come the same way. I think this type of creativity (although it can come the same way as the solution-based creativity) probably comes when I'm not even looking (figuratively or literally) for it, and many times it come during something completely different. Many times I'll be thinking about an approach to something. Maybe it's a life skill or how to organize something better, how to approach a problem, how to view something different in order to remember it. I'll be in a class, say biology…we'll be discussing DNA replication or protein synthesis and all of the sudden, BAM! Biology does it this way - why can't we. I experience a lot of the interdisciplinary type creative explosions. I have to write it down quickly. Although I think I'll remember it - I have to write it down right then, because many times I don't. We have to preserve our creativity.
For me, my solution-based creative process seems to occurs in one of two ways. It is either the result of consciously thinking about something other a given period of time, or in the process or working something, this new "creative" idea or perspective suddenly comes into view. This new view then changes how I might approach or have been approaching the problem.
The non-solution based creative process (the one that is more of something that's created, not as a solution, but something that is artistically creative) doesn't seem to come the same way. I think this type of creativity (although it can come the same way as the solution-based creativity) probably comes when I'm not even looking (figuratively or literally) for it, and many times it come during something completely different. Many times I'll be thinking about an approach to something. Maybe it's a life skill or how to organize something better, how to approach a problem, how to view something different in order to remember it. I'll be in a class, say biology…we'll be discussing DNA replication or protein synthesis and all of the sudden, BAM! Biology does it this way - why can't we. I experience a lot of the interdisciplinary type creative explosions. I have to write it down quickly. Although I think I'll remember it - I have to write it down right then, because many times I don't. We have to preserve our creativity.
As far as my future life, I think it IS ALL ABOUT CREATIVITY. I mean, what is life? Doing what others have done over, and over and over and over? Well, maybe…maybe for some things. But not for everything. What makes me unique? What make me different? What defines me as an individual (with no comparison to other) and compared to others? Why and I so special? Am I just another bacterial strain in a petri dish? All identical? All doing the same thing? I hope not. I am horrified by the possible insignificance of my life. I believe creativity is what makes the difference. Whether it's in my family life and how I approach teaching my daughters to read, or in my business life as I struggle to separate myself from others in the same field. Whether it's in the classroom with other students, or in the eternities as future societies look back at what I left behind for others to read, study and ponder. My creativity is what makes me me. Or is it?…Either way, I better be creative just in case it does.
