Being a social animal and creative
Much writing and advice on enhancing creativity focuses on the individual. But creating happens in a social context, and it depends on inspiration from others, and on getting an audience, and support from publishers and producers. Creative work impacts other people, even worldwide. But being creative can also be inhibited by others.
Dancer, choreographer and teacher Carol M. Press, Ed.D. writes in her book The Dancing Self, “Creativity’s profound effect affirms what binds us together as a species. Creativity contributes immeasurably to the health of humankind; before we understand and accept our differences, we must acknowledge and feel our common bonds.
“This commonality is critical to human existence. Our ancestral heritage ensures that we are social animals, born to live in relation with others.
She adds, “Anthropologist Ellen Dissanayake in her book ART and Intimacy asserts that art-making is an intrinsic human capacity that has psychobiological foundations. Through such creative endeavors people experience, express, and elaborate their common interests in finding meaning and competence in their lives.”
Dr. Press quotes Dissanayake: “Aesthetic experiences transcend simple short-term self-interest, making us aware of our embeddedness or participation in an expanded frame of reference that is larger than ourselves.”
Linda Seger has written a number of books on screenwriting and filmmaking, and talks about the value of “web thinking” in her book with that title.
She writes of the emotional and career values of collaboration instead of hierarchy, and networking as a support for one’s actualization, not simply a way to make business contacts.
Sally Field has commented that she feels “Actresses and other women in the industry need to have contact with each other. Not to tell sob stories, but to kick each other in the butt creatively.”
[From my article The Company of Women.]
Another value of social connection is emotional support. Creative expression and personal growth often involve courage and dealing with fear.
Referring to a variety of research studies, Robert J. Maurer, PhD, a family therapist, writing consultant and instructor at UCLA, has commented in his classes that those people who are able to reach high levels of personal and professional success have a healthy acknowledgment of fear, and they also honor the need to be comforted and supported when extending outside comfort boundaries.
See list of his articles.
Recognizing and honoring our organic needs for interconnection can help us stay energized and creatively engaged.
But some interactions can inhibit our creativity and talent expression.
Creative people were often seen by other kids as outsiders in school, and may still feel that self concept when ‘grown up.’
A couple of teens writing in the book When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers articulated some of this impact:
“Other kids made fun of us as nerds or called us stuck-up. It was not true, it was just that we weren’t sure how to relate to some of our peers. We were informed that we were smarter by our teachers, but to a child, that is just plain ‘different.’ We needed help understanding ourselves.” Erin, 19
“Gifted kids tend to hide their intelligence, as well as their talents, for a very simple reason: Conformity.” Claudia, 16
Books:
The Dancing Self: Creativity, Modern Dance, Self Psychology and Transformation Education, by Carol Press.
Art and Intimacy: How the Arts Began, by Ellen Dissanayake.
When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs, by Jim Delisle et al.
Image at top from Web Thinking: Connecting, Not Competing, for Success, by Linda Seger.
Related pages:
Collaboration
Social reactions/interactions
Social reactions/interactions - teen/young adult
April 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
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