I would like to hear your thoughts and feelings regarding art and/or craft, whether writing, painting, sculpture, acting, designing, singing, and the like. Post whatever you feel is relevant to this topic.
Here are few questions you might address.
• Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society?
• Is everyone creative?
• Can creativity be learned?
• In what ways are you creative?
• Does art and/or craft make the world a better place, worse place, or make no difference?
• Should people pursue, or be encouraged to pursue a life dedicated to art and/or craft?
• Is the “National Endowment for the Arts” a frivolous waste of tax dollars?
• Should creativity be censored?
Again, please respond to this post as you see fit. Make up your own questions and reply. I genuinely appreciate your doing so. Thanks!
‘Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society?’
I would say the artist is the volcanic eruption but society determines the amount and direction of the lava flows and ash clouds. Often this can be negative with the likes of Tracey Emin getting a disproportionate amount of fame for very little quality. Having said that, as with democracy, one must accept the few negatives of what is, on the whole, a positive thing.
‘Is everyone creative?’
Yes, just some people more than others I believe. You could ask whether primates are creative. A monkey can pick up a brush and splash paint on a canvas. Rather like Kandinsky, dare I say. So have elephants. Can that be classed as creativity?
‘Should creativity be censored?’
If artists rehash ‘shock pieces’ like a row of bricks on the floor, or a canvas solely of one colour on an art gallery wall, then yes. Otherwise no, never.
(Or if it harms people or animals in any physical way but psychologically? No. The Danish cartoons of Mohammed for example, hurt people’s feelings but in my view, were an acceptable form of creativity.)
Interesting questions, I could write more but it is 01.50 here in the UK. Goodnight. 🙂
Thank you Beaman! I appreciate your take on these particular questions.
A quick thought about the creative animal concept. I have always held a quiet notion that for something to be art/craft/creative the entity doing the creating should probably be capable of, and hopefully actively entertaining a related thought and/or feeling while the act of creation is taking place.
I lean this way because I think an intention to communicate is one of the many components of creativity. I am not certain that an animal engaged in a seemingly random action is communicating — but who knows for certain? Not I.
I’m a writer at heart, but find myself dabbling in everything and anything, although I don’t claim to have any other particular skills.
I don’t think you can teach creativity, but you can certainly awaken it.
I think art is defined by the creator. If you create for the love of art, then it shouldn’t really matter how society reacts to it. You can’t necessarily set out to change the world, but I think that individuals are changed for the better when there is beauty in the world, or thoughtful things. At least, that’s what I hope every single day.
“I don’t think you can teach creativity, but you can certainly awaken it.”
I like that thought. I think that is getting to the heart of it. Thank you for contributing.
Creativity is the act of expression, for the purpose of elevating the human condition.
Very succinct, but very cool! Thank you.
Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society?
Society – but mostly society in the form of other artists. An artist can make a pretty good argument for why their creation is art, but ultimately art is about communication, and if nobody else is looking at their work (because the consensus is it isn’t worth looking at, i.e. isn’t art), then that artist is not communicating, so I’m pretty hesitant to call it art if nobody else does.
That doesn’t mean society has to have a consensus on a specific piece, of course.
Is everyone creative?
Sure.
Can creativity be learned?
No, but it can be developed. You can learn how to tap into your creativity. It’s always there.
In what ways are you creative?
I’m a writer. I also like to think I am pretty creative in other ways (making up new recipes, taking good pictures, etc.) but none of that is art.
Does art and/or craft make the world a better place, worse place, or make no difference?
I don’t know. I want to say they make the world a better place, because they have the power to transform the way we think about the world and enrich our lives, making us notice beauty that we were taking for granted. But, if we weren’t all watching 30 Rock right now, maybe we’d be doing something concrete to actually make the world a better place.
Should people pursue, or be encouraged to pursue a life dedicated to art and/or craft?
There’s an old joke about a hopeful violin student who played for a famous and accomplished violinist, and then asked if he was good enough. The violinist said no. Years later, the student, now an attorney, goes to a concert and after the show, asks the violinist how she knew that he would never make it. “Oh,” she says. “I tell that to everybody who asks. If you’d been good enough, you never would have listened to me.”
Is the “National Endowment for the Arts†a frivolous waste of tax dollars?
I can’t speak to whether or not the NEA invests wisely – I don’t know much about them – but as a general rule, I support arts funding. There’s loads of studies on how investment in the arts returns more than it costs, in monetary terms, completely aside from the intangible benefits. So as a policy matter, it makes sense to invest.
Should creativity be censored?
Nothing should be censored.
I don’t think creativity should get a special pass – arguing that “if it’s art, it shouldn’t be censored” just opens the door to defining anything we want to censor as not-art and therefore not protected.
Censorship isn’t just wrong, it’s ineffective. If our ideas are better, then let them defeat the bad ideas instead of giving the bad ideas strength by forbidding them.
Thank you Joanne for the insightful responses! I especially like your take that art can make the world a better place because it can open our eyes to what we take for granted — hopefully before we lose it. I appreciate your insight regarding censorship. It does not allow ideas to compete in the arena of public opinion.
• Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society?
The artist or craftsperson determines creation. Society determines if the creation communicated effectively to be considered.
• Is everyone creative?
Everyone is capable of creating, so loosely, the naswer is yes.
• Can creativity be learned?
Per my above response, it is not necessary to learn that which you are already capable of. Creativity can be elevated in a number of ways; education and repetition to name two.
• In what ways are you creative
I write poetry and create fiber sculptures.
• Does art and/or craft make the world a better place, worse place, or make no difference?
A better place becuase it is the expression of the higher self. The world would do well if everyone was in touch with their higher self.
• Should people pursue, or be encouraged to pursue a life dedicated to art and/or craft?
If someone seeks art of craft as part of their life then they should be encouraged. See my above reponse.
• Is the “National Endowment for the Arts†a frivolous waste of tax dollars?
I am not qualified to answer this. I do think it is good to have resources availble for the creative disciplines.
• Should creativity be censored
Never. Human expression should not be repressed.
Thank you for contributing kemck. I am assuming in your first response you meant “to be considered …art or craft” — and your response was very well put. Yours was an extremely logical answer to the question “Can creativity be learned”. I like the phrase “expression of the higher self”. Nicely stated. Again, thank you!
–and so it goes–
…Rob
These are interesting questions, here are my replies!
Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society? The person creating determines what they feel is art or craft, but then in the wider world the decisions are made by audiences, critics and funders.
• Is everyone creative? Yes but see below
• Can creativity be learned? we are all creative but some people need help to awaken their creativity and to know how to express it.
• In what ways are you creative? I write poetry, I make crafts out of reused and recycled materials, I sometimes paint or draw, i make my own greetings cards, I dance.
• Does art and/or craft make the world a better place, worse place, or make no difference? Art and craft in general make the world a better place, because they add beauty to our world and they provoke critical thinking about our society. Having said that there is some art that is empty and has nothing to add to the world and art can be used to destructive or useless ends (I would consider large budget advertising to be an example of art that is ultimately useless, though large corporations would obviously disagree with me!)
• Should people pursue, or be encouraged to pursue a life dedicated to art and/or craft? I think people should be encouraged to take a creative approach to their life, whatever they do.
• Is the “National Endowment for the Arts†a frivolous waste of tax dollars?
Can’t comment as I’m not American.
• Should creativity be censored? Not unless it can be seen to be directly harmful.
Again, please respond to this post as you see fit. Make up your own questions and reply. I genuinely appreciate your doing so. Thanks
Thank you very much for psrticipating Juliet.
I really find your insight on large budget advertising very interesting. It has sparked my thinking.
Much appreciated! 🙂
–and so it goes–
…Rob
Q – Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society?
A – I think art is determined more often by society, but the artist calls his/her work by whatever name he/she chooses.
Q – Is everyone creative?
A – I agree with Joanne Merriam. Everyone is creative. We can choose to use it, or not. Many people don’t trust the creative process and therefore discount it’s use and effects.
Q – Can creativity be learned?
A – Yes, in that one learns how to use it, to turn on the tap so to speak and direct the flow. Learning to trust the creative flow is an experimental act of life that we can choose to undergo.
Q – In what ways are you creative?
A – Creativity, for me, is a lifestyle. Creativity is not limited to canvas or paper. Creativity is the method by which all of my intentions in life become reality. What would be the most fun and creative way to pay my bills, seek an income, communicate with family friends and strangers, dodge or respond to responsibility, live my life, express my love, etc. Even in the way I learn new things I employ the process of creativity. I expect and imagine (loosely) the way I’d like it to be, then sit back quietly (or forward actively) and allow the process of creativity to let it unfold.
Q – Does art and/or craft make the world a better place, worse place, or make no difference?
A – I think it defines humanity. I don’t think humanity would be humane if we didn’t define ourselves by our forms of expression, whether that be through art, craft, communication of ideas et al. I don’t feel there could be a humanity with art and/or craft. Humans have had to be creative to survive. We’ve also had to conform to societal pressures to survive; those which often dampen creativity. In light of how I view creativity, this question isn’t answerable because the world wouldn’t be as we know and understand it without the art and/or craft of humanity. (I hope this one makes sense)
Q – Should people pursue, or be encouraged to pursue a life dedicated to art and/or craft?
A – If the idea of creativity is separated from what the other aspects of survival entail, such as thinking, feeling, logic, scientific investigation, planning, eating, relating etc, then when choosing a vocation (I’m assuming this is what you mean, particularly for young people) I think people should be encouraged to think responsibly and as broadly as possible about how they see their lives unfolding. If by past experience, a persons convictions and choices have not been strong, then I’d advise them to follow a well trodden path until they become better aware of abilities. Art and/or craft can be pursued at any time of life. It isn’t necessary to begin at the beginning. However, if the individual has shown great commitment and has acted responsibly towards his/her chosen form of creativity, then I’d say definitely encourage them to pursue and dedicate.
Q – Is the “National Endowment for the Arts†a frivolous waste of tax dollars?
A – I’m Canadian, so I don’t know this organization. But like one of your other commenter’s, I feel endowing the arts brings people together and broadens our thinking in ways that wouldn’t be possible without that funding.
Q – Should creativity be censored?
A – If someone finds it creative to have sex with children and then publish photos on the internet, then YES, I think creativity should be censored. GOD I hate the anti-censorship folks who are so danged tangled up in their own insanity that they want to generalize censorship without taking each thing into consideration. Censorship is a way that, we together, choose to communicate and protect ourselves. I’m an advocate of vulnerability. I don’t want to have to harden myself to being subject to someone’s obscure fantasies. The way our world is set up, we need to monitor each others behaviour and encourage responsibility. We can’t just do whatever we want whenever we want. What’s with those people out there whining about not having that?
Sincerely,
Camille
Camille –
Thank you for participating in this inquiry. This is research for a book I have been outlining, and am planning to do first draft of later this year.
“Creativity, for me, is a lifestyle. Creativity is not limited to canvas or paper. Creativity is the method by which all of my intentions in life become reality.”
I love that — well put! That’s a quote for the book 🙂