Comments on: Creativity http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:02:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Chris Crawford http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135925 Chris Crawford Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:44:42 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135925 I find the writer's assertions convincing. At first I too was put off by the overly cute ying-yang style, but closer reading revealed that each contrast was based on an asymmetric differentiation. In other words, the writer does not claim "black, yet white"; instead, it's more like "black in these places, yet white in these very different places". His second point, about intelligence versus naivete, is rather muddled. His third point, about the combination of playfulness and doggedness, hits the nail on the head; but his fifth point, about extroversion versus introversion, strikes me as all wrong. Point #6 (humble yet proud) is another bang-on observation; I would sharpen the point by claiming that creative people are humble in absolute terms but proud in relative terms ("I'm a hell of a lot better than most other people, but I still have a long ways to go before I meet my own standards.") Point #7 (androgyny) was the most informative point for me in the piece -- because it had never occurred to me, and yet is obviously true upon reflection. Point #8 (rebelliousness versus traditionalism) is also spot-on. It's a peculiar mix of deep respect for the past combined with an impatience with the present. That impatience with the present is usually interpreted by others as a vainglorious contempt for them. I find the writer’s assertions convincing. At first I too was put off by the overly cute ying-yang style, but closer reading revealed that each contrast was based on an asymmetric differentiation. In other words, the writer does not claim “black, yet white”; instead, it’s more like “black in these places, yet white in these very different places”. His second point, about intelligence versus naivete, is rather muddled. His third point, about the combination of playfulness and doggedness, hits the nail on the head; but his fifth point, about extroversion versus introversion, strikes me as all wrong. Point #6 (humble yet proud) is another bang-on observation; I would sharpen the point by claiming that creative people are humble in absolute terms but proud in relative terms (”I’m a hell of a lot better than most other people, but I still have a long ways to go before I meet my own standards.”)

Point #7 (androgyny) was the most informative point for me in the piece — because it had never occurred to me, and yet is obviously true upon reflection. Point #8 (rebelliousness versus traditionalism) is also spot-on. It’s a peculiar mix of deep respect for the past combined with an impatience with the present. That impatience with the present is usually interpreted by others as a vainglorious contempt for them.

]]> By: k http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135921 k Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:54:30 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135921 Dang! I remembered my password! Thanks, Chris. I haven't ever been able to get far enough into that guy's work to read this. I guess I'll have to try again. But because I recognize what he says about the feeling of creating as true, I will give him credit for knowing what he's talking about in other areas. Personally, I'm going to use it as a how-to lecture, and see if I can get my groove back. It certainly explains some things in me. Dang! I remembered my password! Thanks, Chris.
I haven’t ever been able to get far enough into that guy’s work to read this. I guess I’ll have to try again. But because I recognize what he says about the feeling of creating as true, I will give him credit for knowing what he’s talking about in other areas. Personally, I’m going to use it as a how-to lecture, and see if I can get my groove back. It certainly explains some things in me.

]]> By: Susie http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135919 Susie Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:07:16 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135919 Maybe I liked them because I identified with all of them. Maybe I liked them because I identified with all of them.

]]> By: Izquierdo http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135916 Izquierdo Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:48:17 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/02/04/20/20/creativity-2/#comment-135916 Interesting. But ironically,these ten yin/yang homilies seem just a little formulaic to me. Interesting.
But ironically,these ten yin/yang homilies
seem just a little formulaic to me.

]]>