What is Creativity
Carolann Bulfaro
Major Paper #3
November 24th, 2014
Inventing, problem-solving, creating, and communication are all forms of one specific term; creativity. Every person has somehow displayed an act of creativity since the day they were born; most people have done so within the last day or so, and not even have known. Creativity is one of the most common ways for an individual to be able to express themselves. The way a person dresses, acts, problem-solves, or even communicates are all different ways that a person expresses themselves through creativity. Without creativity, every individual would be the same; I would be the same as the person sitting next to me, or even you, the person reading this paper. So what exactly is creativity then? We know that creativity is the act of being creative, but did you know that the route of creativity means “to grow?”(3) According to Linda Naiman, the founder of Creativity at work, a group that helps organizations develop creativity, innovation and collaborative leadership skills, “Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. [It] is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. If you have ideas, but don’t act on them, you are imaginative but not creative”(2). Creativity is one taking action on their thoughts in order for them to be successful, and Naiman supports and agrees with this by what is said in the last sentence of her definition. The definions also states that there is a specific difference between being imaginative and creative; two terms that can be easily confused. Creativity is the item that allows an individual to stand out and be who they are; it is what makes them different then everyone else. Naiman’s definition describes an individual who is willing to be different, who will not
Major Paper #3
November 24th, 2014
Inventing, problem-solving, creating, and communication are all forms of one specific term; creativity. Every person has somehow displayed an act of creativity since the day they were born; most people have done so within the last day or so, and not even have known. Creativity is one of the most common ways for an individual to be able to express themselves. The way a person dresses, acts, problem-solves, or even communicates are all different ways that a person expresses themselves through creativity. Without creativity, every individual would be the same; I would be the same as the person sitting next to me, or even you, the person reading this paper. So what exactly is creativity then? We know that creativity is the act of being creative, but did you know that the route of creativity means “to grow?”(3) According to Linda Naiman, the founder of Creativity at work, a group that helps organizations develop creativity, innovation and collaborative leadership skills, “Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. [It] is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. Creativity involves two processes: thinking, then producing. If you have ideas, but don’t act on them, you are imaginative but not creative”(2). Creativity is one taking action on their thoughts in order for them to be successful, and Naiman supports and agrees with this by what is said in the last sentence of her definition. The definions also states that there is a specific difference between being imaginative and creative; two terms that can be easily confused. Creativity is the item that allows an individual to stand out and be who they are; it is what makes them different then everyone else. Naiman’s definition describes an individual who is willing to be different, who will not
Cited: Miranda, Carolina A. "Why Creative Education Is Important for Kids." Parenting. Meredith Corporation, 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. Naiman, Linda. "What Is Creativity?" Creativity at Work. Creativity At Work, 17 Feb. 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. Roe, Elizabeth. "Why Is Creativity Important in Everyday Life? | Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library." Topeka Shawnee County Public Library. Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. Strauss, Valerie. "Is Technology Sapping Children’s Creativity?" Washington Post. The Washington Post, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.