Creativity is an interesting topic to discuss because it means different things to so many people. It seems in our culture creativity is most noted when it is highly marketable. So, creative, divergent, expressive thought is most evident when it can connect to the way the majority of consumers in an audience think. Creativity is then something that perhaps not all can possess but will resonate with many.
The idea of fostering creativity in the classroom is an interesting concept too. We may be able to really make creativity the forefront of our lessons, do those same creative lessons generate creative thought in our students. For example, Matt’s class assignment involving us writing a manifesto is very creative. I have never been asked to do this before…you? But will this creative assignment necessarily produce creativity in us, his students? Time will tell.
I think U.S. creativity is a wonderful thing to hang our hat on. I find it hard to believe that there really could a creativity crisis. Mostly, I think it is unlikely because Americans seem to be the only ones that have the time to sit and dream up creative thoughts. Sometimes, creativity and innovation border on laziness, another market I believe we are controlling. To prove that innovation, laziness, and creativity are alive and well, (no real crisis) I am going to insert this comic into my posting…first to do so I believe. There are 38 words in the comic (Matt if you are counting). By the end of this sentence that should give me enough for 300 words exactly.
I LOVE Calvin! We have all the anthologies at home :). Calvin created crazy and innovative snowmen that drove his dad crazy! He also has interesting thoughts on education. The great thing about creativity is that it is open ended and subjective. When we allow ourselves to open up the boundaries then big possibilities and innovations happen - like cell phones are created and 3D movies and wonderful new songs are composed... But it's also scary to try new things and open ourselves up.
ReplyDeleteThe comic isn't showing up! I see that it must show something about "The Bieb", so you need to try again. In the meantime, here is a litte person lip syncing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZNZUyJLlbk&feature=related
ReplyDeleteI love the comic because it fits you, it fits my attitude about my project writing, it creatively fits your word-count need.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, I appreciate your recognizing the importance of laziness in being creative. I have such negative connotations for that word, however, so I have another word. It serves me when I don't want to edit my project, clean the dishes from dinner, or sweep the dog hair that I wade through on the kitchen floor. My word is INCUBATION. My calming mantra--which you may adopt--is I'm not procrastinating; I am incubating.
@ Ryan, keep your mind out of the gutter!
ReplyDelete"amazing, Justin Beiber, wonderful"
ReplyDeleteThese labels were to creatively draw attention to the posting....guess they connected to a few of you!
Got 4 comments in 30 mins.
Much better than when I wrote with passion and feeling---there's gotta' be a message in that!
I'm confused! How did Justin Bieber get into this post? And how could my mind go into the gutter?
ReplyDelete