MIlbrandt Summary

Darrin Gailey

Summary:  Creativity:  What Are We Talking About?

Milbrandt and Milbrandt

1.)The article advocates that the term creativity has been loosely defined, in our culture. The purpose of this article is to define creativity and identify creative processes. The Domain-Changing theory, personal expression, search for meaning, and problem-solving are all explored to determine a more comprehensive definition of creativity.

2.)       -  Creativity: the ability to think beyond conventional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, and to create meaningful new ideas and forms

            -  Domain­altering theory: relies on the opinions of experts to determine if the efforts to 
change the field are successful. Creativity is developmentally and socially valuable.

-  Self­Expression and Meaning Making theory: people are able to construct and express personal meaning through art, which allows the 
people to identify with themselves. Creativity can be a means of a way of learning and developing a clearer understanding about something.

            - Creative Problem Solving Theory: uses a prompt that allows multiple interpretations, none of which may be wrong but are more or less successful based on a set of aesthetic properties.

3.)

4.) A good example that the author uses to stress the lack of creativity has been given recent years are the issues left behind because of the No Child Left Behind act. The No Child Left Behind act rides on a lack of creativity because there can only be one answer. Things don’t work that way in life. The result of this, are people who have issues being creative thinkers and problem solvers. 

5.) I agree that creativity is a broad term which includes many themes. Domain change, self-expression, and critical thinking aid in creating independent individuals who empathize, use knowledge, and engage with their environments socially.

            a.) Are any of these theories limited in who they can be used on?

            b.) Can creativity be defined?