To begin this class, we read two essays and watched a video on creativity. How can we and should we approach the process of making things?
The essays by Jung and Sasaki were similar in their encouragement to allow yourself to create using an unconscious, intuitive process. Jung describes this as "essentially an internalized, intuitive visual process." Sasaki uses the term "experimental research." Both describe an idea that you allow yourself to set aside reason and strict intellect for a time, and simply play with ideas and materials so that you can actually create something new without the restrictions of rationality. While this idea was similar, Sasaki described much more of a step-by-step process than Jung; a process that includes research, analysis, and synthesis.
The similarities between the two articles was the main point of John Cleese's speech on creativity, as well. He said that creativity is not an ability, but a way of being. He described two different mental "states" we can be in that affect our creativity – being "open" and being "closed."
When you are in the "open" state, you can explore and play with ideas without the fear of being wrong. This is where true creativity is found.
When you are "closed," you cannot come up with new, creative ideas. Cleese argued that too many of use reside permanently in the "closed" state, and that we should only go to this state when we are implementing an idea.
Cleese's argument is that we should be able to switch between these two states to find our best creativity, and to be able to implement the ideas. In order to be "open," one must have the space and time to be alone to play with ideas, confidence that there is no fear of being wrong, and humor. Solemnity, according to Cleese, is just pompous and has no room in creativity.
Before reading these essays and watching this video on creativity, I would define creativity as "the ability to take something and connect it to other things to make an entirely new thing." In my own creative process, I do a lot of research, which is something Sasaki recommended. However, I often find myself getting stuck in a "closed" state of mind, because I do not allow myself enough time, space, or confidence to play with and explore new ideas.
Moving forward in this class, I would love to implement Cleese's idea of "playing" into my process. Making time for myself to sit down and explore and ponder new ideas without the pressure of creating something perfect the first time will allow me to come up with entirely new and unexpected ideas.
The essays by Jung and Sasaki were similar in their encouragement to allow yourself to create using an unconscious, intuitive process. Jung describes this as "essentially an internalized, intuitive visual process." Sasaki uses the term "experimental research." Both describe an idea that you allow yourself to set aside reason and strict intellect for a time, and simply play with ideas and materials so that you can actually create something new without the restrictions of rationality. While this idea was similar, Sasaki described much more of a step-by-step process than Jung; a process that includes research, analysis, and synthesis.
The similarities between the two articles was the main point of John Cleese's speech on creativity, as well. He said that creativity is not an ability, but a way of being. He described two different mental "states" we can be in that affect our creativity – being "open" and being "closed."
When you are in the "open" state, you can explore and play with ideas without the fear of being wrong. This is where true creativity is found.
When you are "closed," you cannot come up with new, creative ideas. Cleese argued that too many of use reside permanently in the "closed" state, and that we should only go to this state when we are implementing an idea.
Cleese's argument is that we should be able to switch between these two states to find our best creativity, and to be able to implement the ideas. In order to be "open," one must have the space and time to be alone to play with ideas, confidence that there is no fear of being wrong, and humor. Solemnity, according to Cleese, is just pompous and has no room in creativity.
Before reading these essays and watching this video on creativity, I would define creativity as "the ability to take something and connect it to other things to make an entirely new thing." In my own creative process, I do a lot of research, which is something Sasaki recommended. However, I often find myself getting stuck in a "closed" state of mind, because I do not allow myself enough time, space, or confidence to play with and explore new ideas.
Moving forward in this class, I would love to implement Cleese's idea of "playing" into my process. Making time for myself to sit down and explore and ponder new ideas without the pressure of creating something perfect the first time will allow me to come up with entirely new and unexpected ideas.
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