All Module Meet- Creativity

This week we had a Zoom call where everyone on each module could attend. It was a great opportunity to see what everyone is currently doing within their module.

  • Module 1- starting to talk about their practice and what it means
  • Module 2- thinking about what they want their inquiry to be about
  • Module 3- Looking at starting to gather data for their research

Although each module is looking at different things, all of them link with some overall themes- the ones we spoke about are listed below, however there are many more.

  • Creativity
  • The idea of ‘self’
  • Experience
  • Reflection
  • Motivation and Inspiration
  • Ethics

Creativity was a really interesting point to start with as it is so personal to each of us, and so we all had a slightly different view on it. Some people class themselves as creative and others don’t.

Here are some of the key points we spoke about with regards to creativity.

Are we taught it? Or is it innate within us? Are we born with it? Are we showing our vulnerability with creativity? Do we have to be vulnerable to be creative? Do we need to be in a state of trust in order to really evolve our creativity?

Personally, I have always thought of myself to be creative- if someone asked me to describe myself, it is one of the first things I would say. I also believe that everyone is creative in some way. Having worked with children for a long time now, it has opened my mind to how unique and individual each being is. For example, I choreograph a routine and teach it to some children. Some of the children love dance and want to be in class and learn- others don’t like dance and are only there because they have to be. Maybe others are really shy and lack confidence, and others struggle to pick up the steps. Whatever the children are feeling are completely acceptable states to be in. Now I teach the routine and all the children show it at the end of class. Each of the children has been creative with learning and performing that routine because they are all individuals. Whether they believe they are creative or not doesn’t matter, because they are in the process of interpreting what I have given to them. Whatever state they were in- happy, confused, lost, annoyed, excited- they still produced something unique, whether they believe they are creative or not. I believe this is the case for every living being, no matter what their profession, hobbies or beliefs about themselves are. This links to the idea that creativity is a process- it isn’t a ‘thing’ as such, but a state of being and living.

 I would be interested to know what everyone else thinks on this? 



Bibliography 



Comments

  1. Paul Flannigan20 February 2021 at 09:29

    Hi Alys, thanks for another great blog, I love reading them!! I had never thought of 'creativity' as a state of being, and now your blog has my mind running in circles!! It is true, we create every day...from making breakfast, writing a text or creating a dance...we are all still creating. I love that you allow the kids to show their routine at the end of class. I have started incorporating 'drama games' into my online lessons and seeing their imaginations, confidence and 'creativity' grow has been so fulfilling as a teacher. I believe that we need to be able to create a space that is accepting and caring to allow them to be vulnerable. Is it possible that as we grow older, these 'spaces' are not accepted in the adult population? Is it something to do with our culture and society that, maybe, stops certain people being 'creative' or as 'creative' as they could be? This has opened up some gates for my own research, so thank you for an inspiring blog! Paul x

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    Replies
    1. Alys May-James23 February 2021 at 07:47

      Hi Paul,
      Thank you for reading! I do think that as we get older our views on creativity in ourselves change, whether that is due to society or our own beliefs about ourselves. I think we can become more worried about being 'judged' and so that can sometimes make us shy away from our creative side. Drama games are a great way for kids to push themselves and their imaginations! Thanks again :) Alys x

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  2. Roanne Cox21 February 2021 at 09:48

    Hi Alys, this was a great blog to read and the concept of creativity is a really interesting one. This has resonated with me quite a bit and I think that creativity, when considered a state of living, can be found to manifest in all sorts of ways. Even looking to the professions of friends and family, when you engage in conversation with them about experiences or what they're working on, you often find creativity is prominent in some form - it just manifests differently for everyone depending on what they do. For example, science and engineering are usually labelled as 'academic' but creativity is a huge part of the advancements made and the ideas process.
    It was lovely reading about the children in your class and it makes me think maybe society bestows a preconceived idea of what 'being creative' is - perhaps that it's directly linked to making art of some form - and maybe this not only stunts natural creativity but renders it as something you either possess or don't, an end rather than a means so to speak. Thank you for sharing and sparking some ideas x

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    Replies
    1. Alys May-James23 February 2021 at 07:50

      Hi Roanne,
      Yes I agree that creativity is in everything we do, no matter if its seen as 'creative' or not. I think we are constantly creating just by living. Thank you for reading! Alys x

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  3. Alice Pettini22 February 2021 at 11:27

    Hi Alys, thank you so much for sharing! I wasn't in this Zoom discussion, but I have really enjoyed reading your reflection, especially about creativity. Although I am a dancer and love to perform, to be asked to choreograph something really freaks me out, therefore I have often questioned my personal creativity. But what you have said about the children in your class is really interesting. Without knowing of their creative potential, they execute your choreography in ways that demonstrate creativity. I can imagine that you can tell a lot about them by the way they interpret your choreography. Maybe creativity is more a process rather than a skill as you have cleverly mentioned. Maybe it lives in us all, however some people haven't had the courage or opportunity to use it to their full potential? x

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    Replies
    1. Alys May-James23 February 2021 at 07:53

      Hi Alice,
      I think courage, vulnerability and opportunity definitely have a part to play in creativity, as you said. It is a really interesting concept to think about as its so vast and can mean different things to everyone. Thank you for reading :) Alys x

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