Creativity
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| + | [[Image:Hands of God and Adam.jpg|left|thumb|200px|''[[Hands of God and Adam]]'' (1500s) is a detail of the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo. The detail is from the Adam and Eve cycle]] | ||
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| + | [[There is no great genius without some touch of madness]] | ||
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| + | [[Image:The Artist Moved by the Grandeur of Ancient Ruins.jpg|thumb|right|200px| | ||
| + | ''[[The Artist's Despair Before the Grandeur of Ancient Ruins]]'' (1778-80) by Henry Fuseli]] | ||
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| '''Creativity''' (or '''creativeness''') is a mental process involving the generation of [[new]] [[idea]]s or [[concepts]], or new associations between existing ideas or concepts. | '''Creativity''' (or '''creativeness''') is a mental process involving the generation of [[new]] [[idea]]s or [[concepts]], or new associations between existing ideas or concepts. | ||
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| Although intuitively a simple phenomenon, it is in fact quite [[complex]]. | Although intuitively a simple phenomenon, it is in fact quite [[complex]]. | ||
| - | Creativity has been attributed variously to [[divine intervention]], [[cognitive]] processes, the [[social]] environment, [[trait theory|personality traits]], and [[Randomness|chance]] ("accident," "[[serendipity]]"). It has been associated with [[genius]], [[mental illness]] and [[humour]]. Some say it is a [[trait (biological)|trait]] we are born with; others say it can be taught with the application of simple [[creativity techniques|techniques]]. | + | Creativity has been attributed variously to [[divine intervention]], [[cognitive]] processes, the [[social]] environment, [[trait theory|personality traits]], and [[Randomness|chance]] ("accident," "[[serendipity]]"). It has been associated with [[genius]], [[mental illness]] and [[humour]]. Some say it is a [[trait (biological)|trait]] we are born with; others say it can be taught with the application of simple [[creativity techniques|techniques]]. |
| - | ==Creativity and mental health== | + | ==Etymology== |
| + | From Proto-Italic ''*krēāō'' (“to make [[grow]]”), from Proto-Indo-European ''*ḱer-'' (“to grow, become bigger”), the same root of ''crēscō''. | ||
| - | A study by psychologist [[J. Philippe Rushton]] found creativity to correlate with [[intelligence (trait)|intelligence]] and [[psychoticism]].<ref>(Rushton, 1990)</ref> Another study found creativity to be greater in [[schizotypal]] than in either normal or [[schizophrenia|schizophrenic]] individuals. While divergent thinking was associated with bilateral activation of the [[prefrontal cortex]], schizotypal individuals were found to have much greater activation of their ''right'' prefrontal cortex. This study hypothesizes that such individuals are better at accessing both hemispheres, allowing them to make novel associations at a faster rate. In agreement with this hypothesis, [[ambidexterity]] is also associated with [[schizotypal]] and [[schizophrenia|schizophrenic]] individuals. | + | ==Creativity in art and literature== |
| - | Particularly strong links have been identified between creativity and [[mood disorder]]s, particularly [[manic-depressive disorder]] (aka [[bipolar disorder]]) and [[depressive disorder]] (aka [[unipolar disorder]]). In ''Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament'', [[Kay Redfield Jamison]] summarizes studies of mood-disorder rates in '''[[writers]]''', '''[[poets]]''' and '''[[artists]]'''. She also explores research that identifies [[mood disorder]]s in such famous writers and artists as [[Ernest Hemingway]] (who shot himself after [[electroconvulsive treatment]]), [[Virginia Woolf]] (who drowned herself when she felt a depressive episode coming on), composer [[Robert Schumann]] (who died in a mental institution), and even the famed [[visual artist]], [[Michelangelo]]. | + | Most people associate creativity with the fields of [[art]] and [[literature]]. In these fields, ''originality'' is considered to be a sufficient condition for creativity, unlike other fields where both ''originality'' and ''appropriateness'' are necessary. |
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| + | Within the different modes of artistic expression, one can postulate a continuum extending from "[[interpretation (logic)|interpretation]]" to "innovation". Established [[art movements|artistic movements]] and [[genre]]s pull practitioners to the "interpretation" end of the scale, whereas original thinkers strive towards the "innovation" pole. Note that we conventionally expect some "creative" people (dancers, actors, orchestral members, etc.) to perform (interpret) while allowing others (writers, painters, composers, etc.) more freedom to express the new and the different. | ||
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| + | Contrast alternative theories, for example: | ||
| + | * [[artistic inspiration]], which provides the transmission of [[vision (religion)|visions]] from divine sources such as the [[Muse]]s; a taste of the Divine. Compare with [[invention]]. | ||
| + | * artistic [[evolution]], which stresses obeying established ("classical") rules and imitating or [[appropriation (art)|appropriating]] to produce subtly different but unshockingly understandable work. Compare with [[crafts]]. | ||
| + | * artistic conversation, as in [[Surrealism]], which stresses the depth of communication when the creative product is the language. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Creativity and mental health == | ||
| + | :''[[Creativity and mental health]]'' | ||
| + | Particularly strong links have been identified between creativity and [[mood disorder]]s, particularly [[manic-depressive disorder]] (aka [[bipolar disorder]]) and [[depressive disorder]] (aka [[unipolar disorder]]). In ''[[Touched with Fire]]'', [[Kay Redfield Jamison]] summarizes studies of mood-disorder rates in '''[[writers]]''', '''[[poets]]''' and '''[[artists]]'''. She also explores research that identifies [[mood disorder]]s in such famous writers and artists as [[Ernest Hemingway]] (who shot himself after [[electroconvulsive treatment]]), [[Virginia Woolf]] (who drowned herself when she felt a depressive episode coming on), composer [[Robert Schumann]] (who died in a mental institution), and even the famed [[visual artist]], [[Michelangelo]]. | ||
| + | == History of the concept of creativity == | ||
| + | :''[[History of the concept of creativity ]]'' | ||
| + | The ways in which societies have perceived the [[concept]] of [[creativity]] have changed throughout history, as has the [[terminology|term]] itself. The [[ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] concept of [[art]] (in Greek, "''techne''" — the root of "technique" and "technology"), except for [[poetry]], involved not freedom of action but subjection to ''rules''. In [[ancient Rome|Rome]], the Greek concept was partly shaken, and [[visual art]]ists were viewed as sharing, with poets, [[imagination]] and [[artistic inspiration|inspiration]]. | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[Artistic inspiration]] | ||
| + | * [[Brainstorming]] | ||
| + | * [[Innovation]] | ||
| + | * [[Invention]] (such as "artistic invention" in the [[Visual Arts]]) | ||
| + | * [[Musical improvisation]] | ||
| + | * [[The heroic theory of invention and scientific development]] | ||
| + | *[[Theia mania|Divine madness]] | ||
| + | * [[Greatness]] | ||
| + | * ''[[Why Man Creates]]'' (film) | ||
| + | * [[Confabulation (neural networks)]] | ||
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Creativity (or creativeness) is a mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations between existing ideas or concepts.
From a scientific point of view, the products of creative thought (sometimes referred to as divergent thought) are usually considered to have both originality and appropriateness. An alternative, more everyday conception of creativity is that it is simply the act of making something new.
Although intuitively a simple phenomenon, it is in fact quite complex.
Creativity has been attributed variously to divine intervention, cognitive processes, the social environment, personality traits, and chance ("accident," "serendipity"). It has been associated with genius, mental illness and humour. Some say it is a trait we are born with; others say it can be taught with the application of simple techniques.
Contents |
Etymology
From Proto-Italic *krēāō (“to make grow”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- (“to grow, become bigger”), the same root of crēscō.
Creativity in art and literature
Most people associate creativity with the fields of art and literature. In these fields, originality is considered to be a sufficient condition for creativity, unlike other fields where both originality and appropriateness are necessary.
Within the different modes of artistic expression, one can postulate a continuum extending from "interpretation" to "innovation". Established artistic movements and genres pull practitioners to the "interpretation" end of the scale, whereas original thinkers strive towards the "innovation" pole. Note that we conventionally expect some "creative" people (dancers, actors, orchestral members, etc.) to perform (interpret) while allowing others (writers, painters, composers, etc.) more freedom to express the new and the different.
Contrast alternative theories, for example:
- artistic inspiration, which provides the transmission of visions from divine sources such as the Muses; a taste of the Divine. Compare with invention.
- artistic evolution, which stresses obeying established ("classical") rules and imitating or appropriating to produce subtly different but unshockingly understandable work. Compare with crafts.
- artistic conversation, as in Surrealism, which stresses the depth of communication when the creative product is the language.
Creativity and mental health
Particularly strong links have been identified between creativity and mood disorders, particularly manic-depressive disorder (aka bipolar disorder) and depressive disorder (aka unipolar disorder). In Touched with Fire, Kay Redfield Jamison summarizes studies of mood-disorder rates in writers, poets and artists. She also explores research that identifies mood disorders in such famous writers and artists as Ernest Hemingway (who shot himself after electroconvulsive treatment), Virginia Woolf (who drowned herself when she felt a depressive episode coming on), composer Robert Schumann (who died in a mental institution), and even the famed visual artist, Michelangelo.
History of the concept of creativity
The ways in which societies have perceived the concept of creativity have changed throughout history, as has the term itself. The ancient Greek concept of art (in Greek, "techne" — the root of "technique" and "technology"), except for poetry, involved not freedom of action but subjection to rules. In Rome, the Greek concept was partly shaken, and visual artists were viewed as sharing, with poets, imagination and inspiration.
See also
- Artistic inspiration
- Brainstorming
- Innovation
- Invention (such as "artistic invention" in the Visual Arts)
- Musical improvisation
- The heroic theory of invention and scientific development
- Divine madness
- Greatness
- Why Man Creates (film)
- Confabulation (neural networks)
