Friday, October 30, 2009

Lesson 1: Creativity


What Creativity is:

Creativity
is a mental and social process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts.
Wikipedia

For me, creativity means do the things right using a different way. Lets say: come out with a new idea, see things from several different views, combine two ideas that seem like not relate with each ideas and etc.

Here are some pictures that i think is creative yet funny:

We can hardly imagine that alien and predators sit down and play chess together. But the author did!

Now we know what will happen when Pepsi meet Coke.

Work the Idea:

We have to understand that creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. If we have ideas, but we do not act on them, we are imaginative but not creative. Remember that innovation is the production or implementation of an idea. If we does not act on the idea, it is still an idea.

Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being... creativity requires passion and commitment. Out of the creative act is born symbols and myths. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness-ecstasy.
Rollo May, The Courage to Create

Creativity can be learned:

Creativity is not natural. It can be learned actually. In fact, George Land had once said: people are naturally creative, but often as we grow up we learn to be uncreative.

In school, we are taught to memorize the "right" answers. But what are really the "right" answers? Is it what is written in the text book? Is the “right” answer the truth? Or is the “right answer” the answer written in the answer script for teachers?

The problem I like to point out here is, in school we are told to memorize “facts” and “right” answers. However, there is little emphasis on finding the “right” answer or questioning the source of the answer. We are programmed to accept a “right” answer from someone with status and authority, such as our teacher.

When our mindset is being programmed to memorize the "right" answers, are we going to waste our brain cells to think for another "right" answer?

Creativity is a skill that can be developed and a process that can be managed. It requires practice to develop the right muscles and a supportive environment in which to flourish. The more you think, the more you can see things differently.

I once used to be a student who memorized answers. I do not even like to think as thinking is tiring. However, when i first step in the society, I realized that thinking is so important because there is no "right" answer in business field. The business environment forced me to start thinking. I am not saying that I am a creative guy now, but at least I see things different from others. Lets say, some people see a chair as a chair but I see it as a tool to earn money or even as a weapon for self protection!

So, creativity can be learned, as long as you are willing to think.

English:
Right: Shit, I cant smell a single thing!
Left: People is literature division, not smell shoes division la.
PS: Literature sound like smell shoes in mandarin.

Right Brain, Left Brain


Our left brain thinks logically, our right brain thinks creatively. Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of these styles of thinking. Some, however, are more whole-brained and equally adept at both modes. In general, schools tend to favor left-brain modes of thinking, while downplaying the right-brain ones.

It is important for us to build a whole-brained mode rather then only focus on one. Remember that creativity is about doing the right things in a different way. To do the things right, you still have to think logically. I can use a creative way to rob a bank, but robing a bank can never be good.

Lets have some real life examples:

Now we can eat kids for free!

See what i mean? So start from today, practice your brain to be equal adept in both thinking modes. If you are left brain-minded, grab some books to read; if you are right brain-minded, join a society or get involve in co curriculum.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity
http://www.creativityatwork.com/articlesContent/whatis.htm


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