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The Riddle of Creativity

Posted October 9th, 2009 by Linda Hollier

“There is something bedazzling about the creative act: always a surprise, it shocks with its unimaginable perfection, its strange eloquence, its balance between the fresh and the familiar.  Perhaps it’s because we want to make such magic ourselves that we are so intrigued by how others do it.”

This sentence is taken from an article published in The New York Times in 1992.  Written by Daniel Goleman and entitled “Pondering the Riddle of Creativity” it looks at various theories to explain creativity.

Despite the fact that it does not use “integral speak” it looks at a number of factors in all four quadrants that influence the creative act.

Goleman addresses the creative moment itself, the flow state, the psychological and social forces at work in the lives of creative geniuses, the 10-year rule, the evolving artwork of artists, their family backgrounds, the geographical regions in which they live, the times in which artists live; and also questions what accounts for the rise and fall of golden ages of creativity in human history and where we can expect another renaissance.

The stories of Gregory Gillespie, George Lucas and Janusz Glowacki illustrate the theories Goleman explains.

It makes for a fascinating read from the point of view that we are reading it in retrospect.

The article ends with a prediction that the next golden age will occur in the second decade of this century.  To find out why this prediction was made, you will have to read the article!

What do you think?

Are we beginning to see the advent of a golden age of creativity?

Where will it take place?

What in your opinion encourages creative expression?

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Where does creativity hide?

Posted October 9th, 2009 by Anne Tyler Lord

Linda,

I have so much that I would love to say about creativity.  It is one of my favorite topics of research, writing, and living.  Instead, I will share one of my favorite Ted Talks about creativity, Amy Tan: Where Does Creativity Hide?  There are so many gems in this one about the mysteries of the creative process.

Happy Friday and have a good weekend,

 Anne Tyler Lord
Storytelling from the space of Integral Consciousness
Poetry, Prose, Fiction

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creativity

Posted October 9th, 2009 by Ambo Suno

Linda, I too found several parts of his article interesting and mildly surprising. Thanks.

ambo

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Creativity

Posted October 10th, 2009 by Scott Marshall

Are we beginning to see a golden age of creativity?

Slowly.  Something like a modern day Renaissance would be really worthwhile for the world.  Being one of the younger IL people that post (I'm 28), I am not sure I can project an accurate timeline on the matter.  I enjoy speculating about an artistic rebirth in world culture.  Unfortunately there is much recycling of older films; the remake of films from the past.  I think that this is more about making money than making a new artistic contribution.  I liked the video on creativity by Amy Tan.  In the flatland postmodern world there's not much that stands out.  If you look, you can find some gems.

Where will it take place?

Good question!  As long as the internet remains free *which might not be for much longer, I think it will occur here first and then leak into mainstream culture.  Just like the Beatles became a phenomenon when they came to America, I think something similar may occur on the internet.  By the way who is the modern day Beatles?  Coldplay?  Please...

What encourages creative expression? 

For me being willing to be uncomfortable provides a drive to creative thought, creative behavior, out of the box solutions.  A sense of humor is so important, because we take ourselves real seriously here on IL.  Comedy is a risk.  Suffering for the sake of art is passe.  You can only do so much with that pattern of artistic being.  Say good bye to the twisted artist.  Say goodbye to the self destruction.  

Welcome the radical, the integration of collective shadow material.  Be responsible for it.  

I consider this as being "in alignment."  So that creativity is moved through one's being as a fuel or God's instrument.  A divine instrument.  By my own self I do nothing.  This artist cleans up after themselves.  

 

S