Developing Creativity

I have just found this blog, with a particularly interesting post on how higher ceilings can aid creativity! It sounds unusual I know… what do you think? Also read his other post on attending a retreat at a Buddhist monastery: personally I think this would be a great way of opening yourself up to being more creative.  Having been constantly working at home, and spending endless days on campus… once I get home for Christmas it usual takes at least a week for me to properly unwind and fully enjoy doing absolutely nothing! At first, as McGuinness says, it can be unpleasant trying to switch off and stop your mind from making lists and and planning; but once you do, you may even experience ‘moments of clarity!’

I really enjoyed the reading we were given this week. I found the chapter from Ken Robinsons book more applicable to the seminars, and I felt he really summed up a great explanation of how the sciences can be just as creative as the arts. Ken contradicts stereotypes by saying that maths is often subjective, and highlights the hidden objectivity within the arts.

I was intertested to read about the two different perspectives on education – rationalism and Romanticism, and the points in the history of education when new ideas were brought up in relation to developing the ‘whole child’ rather than turning schools into ‘production lines of myopic specialists’.

In relation to what Sophie said about comparing a piece of work by and english student, to that of a maths, you would generally find an obvious divide in which is objective and which subjective. Only yesterday did I (whilst writing my maths homework) cross out ‘as I have found’ to make it ‘as we can see’. In maths, a piece of work rarely feels your own, as I know the person sitting next to me will have submitted a very similar, if not identical piece of work. I cannot claim the answers to be unique to me, I am not the first one to have written down that formula. Whereas in an english essay, say, someone my very well be the first to come up with that idea, that interpretation, their very own creative answer.

Following a link from to Chutimas blog to the connections between madness and creativity, I went on to research some more in this area, and found this. It is an article in the Independent examining how far it is true that there is a link between madness and creativity. The question is not answered fully, and in the case of Robbie Williams, I think it is important to consider the effects of drugs, and ponder on what we spoke about in the seminar in relation to whether drugs can aid creativity. On Chutimas page, the link the this site highlights a number of ways to increase your own creativity… do you think any of these could be made easier if someone was taking drugs? You often here about people hallucinating and I believe this could be classed as having a ‘flexible imagination’. I wonder how many of the people we call ‘creative’ actually took drugs, and when thinking about creativity and madness, it ios important to consider the negative effects of certain drugs and the mental illnesses they can cause.

This week, I found the task of describing how ‘being creative’ makes you feel particularly challenging. For starters, I felt unsure of how to acutuallu define ‘being creative’ let alone decide which words to use in order to describe how it makes me feel! In class, a lot of references seemed to be made to painting, or drawing… neither of which I do. I mean, a few years ago when I felt I was more ‘creative’ (even though I still am!) I would have occasionaly done some doodling, but even then it was nothing very good.

I was wondering to myself whether reading could be classed as being creative? For me.. reading is way for me to relax and escape to another world and at first I decided this wasn’t very creative at all as I merely read someone else’s words rather than write my own; but thinking about it some more… when I read I really do imagine the place, people, smells, sights – so yes, I suppose this is my main way of being creative.

Steiner schools give priority to educating the “whole child”, with a strong emphasis on creativity.

Looking back to last year in our introductory sessions, we had a member of staff from a Steiner or Waldorf school come and talk to us; at the time I was very interested and wrote my final essay on this type of education. I feel this is relevant here as Steiner schools do place specific emphasis on somewhat less academic studies as they have no curriculum to follow. Eurythmy, a movement art, is taught to children and involves dance and role play with the aim of providing individuals with a ‘sense of integration and harmony’. In particular this links with Ken Robinson’s speech, as he comments on the lack of dance incorporated in the curriculum.

‘Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention’ made me realise just how many factors can contribute to the creavitity of an individual. This chapter focused on how a lack of resources can refrain someone from progressing, for example, without ‘access to a field’ a certain person may be ignored my their peers due to lack of understanding.

My best friend Becky is an extremely creative indivdual; she is currently undertaking a degree in Art at university having excelled at school. Becky would often stay up until 4am before school working on a piece or particular art project – even if it wasn’t due in for weeks! But on the other hand, some days she would seem like he laziest person and spend all day in bed.  Csikzentmihalyi made me understand her behaviour by stating that ‘creative individuals have a great deal of physical energy, but they are also often quite and at rest’ and offering the explanation that the ‘energy is under their control’. It is here where I differ… I like to be in bed my 10pm and up by 9am… no matter what deadlines are or are not looming over me the night before… I will always go to bed knowing it can wait until the morning!

I must adimit, getting this far in the blogging process has not been an enjoyable experience. I have struggled to even find other blogs… let alone read them and set them as links here! Problems started to arise when I tried to create my google account, to be told my email was already registered! Oh well.. it’s all sorted out now, and I have enjoyed browsing other blogs and adding those which I feel are relavent to this module.

The reason I chose this module, as many others did, was in the hopes of rekindling my own imagination which I feel has subsided and been overcome with the pressures of University and generally just being busy. For example, in the past, once in bed I would pick up a book and read for an hour or so; reading is something I particularly enjoy and really gets my imagination going. But in the past few years, once my head hits the pillow I am fast asleep!

I used to keep a regular diary, so I found the wrtining task rather easy and if anything struggled to stop writing, and although I will try to keep this blog mainly related to the task in hand, I am considering starting a new one, or perhaps reverting back to my hand-written diary for my own day to day thoughts.

Anyway, I will now go back to reading through other blogs and will post when I find something I, or think you might, find interesting! I have added a couple of links to some blogs I have browsed through; this blog poses the question ‘Does ‘creativity’ therefore get confused with ‘talent’ in the education system?’  which I have never thought about before and in a way particularly agree with. What do you think? Finally, I will leave you with this link for a site I really enjoy and check regularly… although not releveant to education it may set off some creative thoughts.