Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Business Of Creativity

Everyone is born to create. We create our present. We create our future.
There is a love-hate relationship with “creativity.” What does the word mean?

I am in a so-called creative business. But that’s just a misconception. Every business is creative in one way or another. We create a strategy, a product, a marketing plan, a filing system, a procedure etc.

Some people I know like to refer to certain groups as “oh, those creative people are like that you know ” — refering to film directors, writers, artistes, designers, stylists. I take offense in this. So, if I don’t throw my tantrum like one of them, then I am not creative? If I don’t dress myself in a certain way, then I am not creative?

And why is that people who involve themselves in the arts are mostly stereotyped in character: pot-smoking, bohemian, tight-shirted, tattoed, uncombed hair, undisciplined, emotional, egoistic, …..and poor?

The arts is a painful business. Psychologists and many learned people encourage to involve children in the arts to learn how to express our individuality and to nurture our cultural and creative instincts. On the other hand, businesses, families and most governments treat the arts as the last option of serious business. What, support the arts?

Moviemaking, Art, Dance, Music, Theatre — all encompass what we call “the arts.”

This confusion created by modern society towards the subject of “the arts” leaves us on a pathetic, half-hearted, stop-and-start journey. Do we go or do we not? Or do we stop awhile till the economy gets better? Till someone notices us? The river either flows or it dries up.

Should the arts have no monetary value? Be last on your list? No funding for the hungry artist? No reward for creativity? Shouldn’t the artist be respected as leaders of the human race? Messengers Definers? Speakers? Perpetrators?

Without the arts, there would be no heritage today. No ancient ruins. No designs. No castles. No jewelry. No culture. No history. No dance. No music. No stories. No love. No uniqueness.

No us.

Without the arts, we are nothing. Oblivion.


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