Toxic Jam

Week Twenty Task

I want to begin this blog with the most popular creator known to man, God. God was said to have created everything ex nihilo, which means out of nothing. This is pretty much the ultimate form of creativity, no influence, no materials, no anything.

Obviously humans could never do this. We are constantly being influenced by what is around us, and we are bombarded with different materials. So the human definition of creativity would using what we already for a new purpose.

I do think that certain people have a greater potential when it comes to creativity, and it has already progressed us shockingly far in a short space of time. I’m not just referring to the Art world, but to technology.

The potential for creativity is not something that can be measured. But it can be identified in different people, with there ability to be original and to think laterally. Creativity is defiantly a form of intelligence, but it doesn’t go hand in hand with what we would typically believe intelligence to be.

Creativity can be linked with our genes. Our parent’s abilities and traits will show in us, but not solely because of our genes. Growing up with a creative person could be a necessary part of developing a creative mind yourself.

Creativity can also be linked with mental health problems. There is the possibility of genetic connections with bipolar disorder and creativity. We can look at some of the most famous artists and inventors and discover that they had a mental illness. I read about the links in a piece of writing by Alison McCook Reuters.

“Strong said that people with bipolar disorder might also have creative tendencies because they see the world in two ways, with the same surroundings appearing differently to them depending on whether they are feeling manic or depressed.”

Another way of thinking about creativity is culturally. Having grown up in a certain culture your ability to create is related to what you have been exposed to. That could be why certain technological advancements are made in certain countries.

Individuality is also very important. No one person has ever shared the exact life experiences of another. The unique life of each person is crucial to the things that they think and the things they create.

In relation to our course, creativity is vital. But it must go hand in hand with talent and skill. Without them creativity will not take you very far.