Marshall Summary

Darrin Gailey

Digital Creativity

Chen, 3.2

Marshall- Thinking outside and on the box.

Summary:

The intent of this article is to inform about Wallas’ Stages of Creativity theory. There are four stages:  preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. This idea has lead to three modes of thinking:  analytical, associative, and transformative.

Main Points:  The Four Stages

Preparation: The first step. This includes identifying the “Name”, then locating the problem, finding and constructing the background info, and finally examining the ideas in the background information.

Incubation: The second step. This includes combining ideas. This creates concepts, change connotations, and then it extends ideas further.

Illumination: The third step. This includes creating something out of the composed ideas.

Verification: The fourth step. This includes discovering meaning through the process and extending ideas through other imaginative analysis.

Example:

A good example from the article is the “box project.” This was a good example because it reflected the author’s theories of creativity extremely well. Within this example, the author let each of the students use their own creative expression and move off in different directions. That was a good thing because if he didn’t, they most likely would have ended up with a lot of similar results.

Response:

I agreed and disagreed with the article. Parts were great and others not so much. I liked how he created a structure for the creative process. But, at the same time I feel as though the creative steps that he outlines are too static. 

                 

Huang summary

Darrin Gailey

Digital Creativity

Chen

1/23/14

Huang and Barmberger

1.In this article, Barmberger discusses the uses of technology to digitally create photographs. He also discusses the validity of constructed photographs in art.

2.Worldview: What the artist values as knowledge. It is the foundation of intention, principles, and ideas that create artwork

Truth: The notion in which people agree, therefore it is true.

Art: He experiences art, it’s a presentation view of what we see.

Reality: It is something that we experience with our senses.

Structuralism: “An emphasis of finding the underlying structure of how things function.”

Formalism: A form that is treasured and appreciated by all.

3.I really liked the examples that Huang gives. They’re of work that I know (work by artists such as Monet) and that helps me more connections. I liked that it helped highlight his opinion of what art is.  It was pleasing how the author details the various artist’s methods and medium. But more importantly I liked that he states why he uses what he does. 

4. .I thought that this article was extremely interesting and that is raised a lot of questions. That said, I didn’t quite agree with the article. I feel as though all images can be truthful to an extent. They don’t have to be beautiful. Another thing that bugged me was that the article didn’t feel complete. It needed a better ending to help wrap  it up.

Nickerson summary

Darrin Gailey

Digital Creativity

Chen

1/23/14

Summary:  Enhancing Creativity

1.) This reading is about creativity. What is it? Who has it? Can it be enriched? There are several concepts that can lead to increased creativity:  the ability to take risks, intrinsic motivation, mastery of a subject, and metacognitive skills.

2.) Concepts:

What is Creativity? It is innovative and free-thinking that goes beyond the issue at hand.

Critical thinking-A way of thinking that is very rational and controlled. We use it to make decisions.

Creative thinking- A way of looking at problems or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox solutions (which may look unsettling at first). Creative thinking can be stimulated both by an unstructured process such as brainstorming, and by a structured process such as lateral thinking.

           

Motivation- Motivation from within. Usually have a deeper level of learning

3.)I liked how the author discusses the different ways in which creativity can be used. For example, “good and evil”.  Its powerful! I also liked how Nickerson explained and explored the different studies and how that creativity needs to be defined.

4.) This article was very interesting. I liked how it went about describing the different elements that are important to creative thinking. I felt as if a few answers to some of the questions asked went left out. But, some other questions were too well answered. It some areas it felt a little redundant, but not to the extreme.

Glaveanu Summary

Darrin Gailey

Digital Creativity

1/16/14

Prof. Chen

Glaveanu, “Paradigms in the study of creativity: Introducing the perspective of cultural psychology”

1.The world is in a constant state of evolution, and as it changes so do the views of the creativity. Three stages exist within the study of creativity The He­Paradigm developed around the idea of a single ‘genius.’ This ‘genius’ was overflowing with creativity. The I­paradigm states that all individuals possess creativity. The We­paradigm, is when creativity flows through group interaction and cooperation. It is, however, hampered by external motivation.

2.         -He-paradigm: This stage is of the creator as being genius. Creativity, according to this theory, is also inherited, and is traditionally thought of to be a male trait. The creator is gifted, and few are chosen.

-I-paradigm: The genius is replaced with a “common” or “normal” person, but there is still a focus on the individual. Theory that creativity is in every person and it is through practice that a person can better their skills.

-We-paradigm: This paradigm sought to put the social back into theories of creativity in a universal and regular fashion. Creativity comes to fruition in social settings, allowing for collaboration and the sharing of ideas. The major fault of this theory, though, is the idea of external motivation.

-Cultural psychology of creativity: T a study of how cultural traditions and social practices regulate and transform the human mind.

3.--

4. Glaveanu does a great job of connecting creativity and social interaction by referencing the work of Winnicott. Glaveanu gives several example, but the example of the He-paradigm on page 80is the most interesting. The ‘being’ influenced by God and originating in Ancient Greek and Roman culture. I was able to connect my knowledge in art history to the paradigms, especially the He-paradigm. Another interesting aspect was that as artists are inspired by their society, using symbols to relay messages is a great way for contexts to be construed.

5. I agree with the author’s viewpoint. We are humans, we draw from what we know. The This then helps with understanding and confirming creativity. I find it interesting the change in paradigms. I do agree though with the individual stance. Creativity is defined by everyone.

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?