I need your... yes, YOUR! Opinions!!!!!?

Question

Okydoky, so I'm writing a research paper for English. The problem is, only, like, 40% is research. My topic (Can creativity be taught?) sounds more like opinion than researchable (word?) fact. I am making avail in researching psychology databases... but that is beside the point.
I want your opinions on this topic: Can creativity be taught? Can the human psyche sit at a desk and listen to a lecture on creative expression, then, without precedent, create a work of art? I myself believe not, but can anyone prove me wrong.
Please! No shallow, "yes or no" answers. If you are going to answer, make it deep and thought provoking.
TYVM!!!

Okay, good arguments. Those who say you can be taught, think, you can be taught style, but can you teach one to apply the style? Those who say no, elaborate...

So what you are saying, doclago (pardon spelling) is that creativity is not just an artistic term. Anything can be concidered creative if put into play by a creative person? Creative could also be, not an artistic way, but a new way of doing things... fascinating!

Answer 1

I think that "creative" is a subjective word. Some people are artistically creative, some are creative writers, others musicians. Plastic surgeons often have to be creative as well as plumbers, electricians, professional sportsmen, mechanics, politicians, etc. I think you can stimulate a person to think on his/her own and that alone stimaultes some sort of creativity.
We all have our different interests and different areas where we naturally excel. You can't stimualte a person to be creative in an area where they have no interest or natural talent. You can give people a baseline or the tools to think, and what they do with it IS creativity.

Answer 2

Consider the converse -- it seems that much in formal education is designed to squelch creativity. For example, lecture-style classes where the teacher dispenses knowledge and students regurgitate it for tests.

Perhaps, creativity is something to be nurtured more than taught. Any sort of skill and ability, honed by a perceptive teacher, can be further developed; and any gift, neglected, can end up amounting to nothing.

I agree that listening to a lecture probably isn't going to make anyone creative, but being having one's new ideas acknowledged and taken seriously might encourage creative expression.

Answer 3

I think a person can improve on anything he sets is mind to, even "creativity" which I'll admit is something you're mostly born with. If one were to read books about particularly creative people, this would probably help someone in this area. Sometimes it's hard to even discern whether a person is particularly creative because he's born that way, or because he's learned about being creative. I'll give you a specific example: you have to think up projects for young kids to do. Of course, it can be an instinctual thing, or you can hit the internet and borrow from other's thoughts. Either way, you can impress people with your ability to entertain children.

Answer 4

Yes. I believe that a person can be taught to be creative (to a greater or lesser extent).

Example:
A person who knows the basics of cooking- that is to say that they can follow the directions on a box of macaroni and cheese to serve four kids for lunch.
Now lets say that three more kids came over and now one box wont be enough and that's the only box they have.

At that point, they can be taught to be creative. The more experienced person comes in and teaches them to be creative in the preparation of the food (stretching it to feed all of the kids).

If it sounds like I'm over simplifying--I'm really not. I have found that life, in general, just isn't that complicated. Keep it simple.

Answer 5

You seem to have equated 'teaching' with 'lecturing.'

I do not think lecturing would do much to teach creativity. It could help a little bit--for example, we know that criticism (positive or negative) squelches creativity, and so if the lecturer urged students not to self-critique until they'd finished creating or brainstorming or whatever process, that might help a little.

Now, the best viewpoint I ever heard on the subject came from an art professor (ceramics) who noted that people seem to think they should wait around for inspiration--but that inspiration doesn't come before you start working, it happens WHILE you're working.

So that says that a good teacher, one who teaches you the proper technical skills and encourages you to keep at it, is setting up the conditions to improve your creativity.

In the final equation, only practice improves creativity. All a teacher can do is to provide some guidance, technical skill, and an encouraging atmosphere.

Answer 6

Creativity is the expression of our uniqueness. Although we all use the same senses, we perceive and comprehend things in different ways, and therefore allow us to make unique creations. One good example is Monet, considered as the father of impressionism. According to the Stanford University Medical Center, he was not doing abstract painting, as we thought, but he was actually painting what he was seeing. He apparently had an eye condition that gave him a blurred vision.
I believe that we can learn "tricks" to become more creative, but creativity does not need to be learned.

Answer 7

Creativity is an attribute and as such cannot be taught. Creative people have developed techniques which can be taught but only other creative people excel. Creativity is a universal attribute- everyone has a talent for something.

Answer 8

Of course.. Creativity is really just science that comes naturally.. It can be taught (take a design class at college and sit through 50 hours of listening about the basics of design).

Answer 9

I would love to say yes you can be taught to be creative, but the truth is I don't believe you can. I believe you can be taught to paint, but not be creative enough to be a rembrant. I believe you can be taught to sing, not to write the number one hit. You can learn to play an instrument, but it takes creativity and born talent to become betovan (excuss the spelling please,but you know who i mean) If creativity could be taught, I for one would be very creative.

Answer 10

Creativity being taught... hmm. well, i always thought that you can teach a person prose, but EXPERIENCES, Those are truly the life blood of the CRAFT. Your art can only display the emotion that you put into it. A badly painted living room wall tells the observer that the painter lacked enthusiasm.