Comments on: What Makes us Creative?

By: Trent M.

Trent M. — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:08:25 +0000

Another Creativity article, yes!
A great read. Both the article and discussions.
I love how you brought up playing with children and how they just… Go with the flow. Not even TRY.
Something I came across is an imagination improving technique in which you try to think of things, whether it be a general thought or problem, in a child’s perspective.
Though an adult may be more experienced and knowledgeable, I believe children are much more imaginative and intelligent. Not to mention closer to themselves and the universe and always in the now most of the time because they don’t dwell on the past or dread the future. They are in the present and focused on achieving only one thing; HAVING FUN!

By: How to Squeeze Writing Inspiration from Every Experience | Write to Done

How to Squeeze Writing Inspiration from Every Experience | Write to Done — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:43:05 +0000

[...] Related article: What Makes us Creative? [...]

By: Innocent Warrior

Innocent Warrior — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:58:03 +0000

Excellent Article!!!

By: Mary Jaksch

Mary Jaksch — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:03:09 +0000

@Hunter Nuttall
Thank you for your research on the dancer, Hunter.
Well, I can reverse the dancer in Firefox, but I have to look out of the window in between to break the spell

By: Hunter Nuttall

Hunter Nuttall — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:30:16 +0000

How I see the image of the lady turning depends on my browser!

I started in Firefox, and I could only see her turning clockwise, despite trying for a few minutes to see her turning counter-clockwise.

For some reason I decided to try it in IE, and for some reason she turned _much_ more slowly, actually coming to a complete stop for a second or two every now and then. Within a few seconds I was able to see her turning counter-clockwise. However, I just got lucky that time–it’s still very hard for me to see her turning counter-clockwise, although I can do it.

But in Firefox, she only turns clockwise for me. It’s way too fast for me to even try to reverse it.

By: Mary Jaksch

Mary Jaksch — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:34:52 +0000

@ Damon Richards
Thank you, Damon. You raise an interesting point in your comment. It’s true, creativity is a delicate state and if we think too much about it, we can lose the impetus for creation.

Nevertheless, I’m always interested in how the mind functions. For sure we can’t control creativity. By definition nothing arising from control can be creative. However, maybe we can provide the ground for creativity to take root and flourish.

Seen another way, creativity is a sacred accident, and we can maybe become accident prone. What do you think?

I’ll be posting a second post on creativity tomorrow. I wonder if you would be willing to read it and maybe comment on it? I would be keen to hear more about your experience of teaching creativity.

@ Daniel
Thank you for your comment, Daniel. D’you really think that the image in the Herald Sun that’s supposed to be an indicator of right-or left brain function is a hoax? Ah well, I had fun with it anyway! Interestingly enough, I could only imagine the image turning one way at any one time. So, when the dancing figure seemed to be twirling clockwise, I couldn’t imagine seeing it any other way. Then I would look away, think about something else and–hey, presto–the figure would suddenly twirl anticlockwise.

The interesting point is: I could only change the way my brain interpreted the image when I glanced at it out of the corner of my eye. That seems to be a facet of creativity: we are more likely to make new connections when we look at something obliquely.

By the way: do you have a link to any other left/rightbrain exercises we could have fun with?

By: daniel

daniel — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:38:56 +0000

hi, Mary, how are you?

I like this article, but (you’re going to be disappointed here) I think the left/right-brain image is a hoax. I can make it go either way when thinking either analytical or emotional thoughts. Try the HBDI if you’re interested in brain dominance – it’s a much more useful exercise!

I look forward to reading more of your stuff.

daniel

By: Damon Richards

Damon Richards — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:08:01 +0000

I find it interesting that the discussion of creativity moves rather quickly to brain functions and the like. As you point out, children call it playing and never worry (or even consider) whether they’re using the left or right sides of their brains. They just do it. Therein is the secret of creativity.

I’ve conducted seminars on the creative process and find that it’s a delicate state that is easily overthought. Coffeehouse hypnotists regularly tell subjects that they are famous creative people only to watch those subjects perform miraculous feats of creative work. It’s always in there. Stop thinking. Start doing.

By: Mary Jaksch

Mary Jaksch — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:53:29 +0000

My apologies, diluvi – I was horrified to see that I had forgotten to link your fantastic photo to your site! It’s all corrected now…phew.

It pays to click onto the link because then you can see the photo in all its glory, not just the cropped version I am using.

By: diluvi

diluvi — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:50:22 +0000

Can your put a refer to our blog and flickr photo?

http://www.diluvi.com/firefox-mola-formentera/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diluvi/623136351/

Thanks