Creativity

Encouraging creativity is a Holy Grail of this society and culture. We declare it a high ideal, devoutly to be wished for our children and for ourselves. Or do we? Those who "color outside the lines" get pummelled for not knowing their place, or for breaking boundaries, or stepping on the toes of others. Youngsters are encouraged to engage in artistic pursuits, but dissuaded from attempting to make a living in the field with the bugbear threat of "the starving artist."

The linked article in the title touches on another aspect to our society's response to the creative soul: if it hurts, make the hurting stop, even if something valued and valuable is destroyed in the process. In today's overcommitted, rushed, stressful world, psychoactives are the literal lifeline to millions, not to be dismissed. At what cost? What books, novels, movies, plays, games, and music will never be born? And how much human misery is required to have these things created for the rest of us to enjoy? No easy answers here.

Books and imagination go hand in hand; so do games. Art and illustration open windows to otherwheres only the artist can show. All the creative and cognitive processing skills that the Partnership for 21st Century Skills zeroed in on have their roots in ruminative, thoughtful consideration of the world(s) around us, literal and virtual. In the end, does this add to misery or joy, and for whom? Regardless of what you think the answer is -- it will be a more interesting tomorrow. That much I'm sure of.