Creativity is a
very broad topic. However, for me it is a never ending process. Just what I shared in the class, for as long as there are problems or situations, there
will be creativity. It brings out the best in an individual. My classmates told me that there was a discussion last week about creativity and
whether it is inherited or learned and discussions about Japanese creativity. With that we are asked to come up with our 3rd reflection blog.
Creativity for
me is all about “Nature vs. Nurture”. Both nature and nurture play significant roles in the development of creativity
of a person. Based on what I learned when I was still
taking up Sociology, I would tell that a
person’s creativity can be a product of both human effort and so-called will power. Human
experience is affected and shaped by many variables. So if you have creative mom and dad, there will be a tendency that their
genes contain something that makes their brains perceive the world and
articulate meaningful experience through whatever medium in a unique and different style.
But to attribute it all to genes would be simplifying the beautiful complexity
of the creative mind.
However, I believe that biological inheritance of being potentially creative is one part of the story. An individual’s early history has a significant effect. Interest and curiosity tend to be stimulated by positive experiences with family, by a supportive group or environment, with a rich cultural heritage, through being exposed to many opportunities and pressure with high expectations. In contrast, perseverance seems to develop as a response to a precarious emotional environment, a broken family, a feeling of being rejected and discrimination. Creative individuals seem more likely to have been exposed to both or all of these circumstances.
Also, I think that curiosity
and drive are in many ways the “yin and the yang” that need to be combined for
becoming creative. Curiosity requires openness to outside stimuli. It is playful
and deals with objects and ideas for their own sake. Drive needs the inner focus, seriousness, the competitive spirit and being goal orientation. The curiosity and commitment of
creative people often directs them to confront the social problems that most people are too content to leave alone. That’s why I think Japanese
are full of curiosity and drive that’s why they are very creative.
I wasn’t able to get
the copy of the lecture about Japanese creativity but let me just share my
first hand experience with Japanese and how they are pushed to be creative and
link it to the issue of Nature vs. Nurture. I have cousins who are Japanese and
they go home in the Philippines once a year. Often times, we talked about how
their technology differs from others. One of my cousins, Naoko Takara, told me
that during the time that she was still studying, they were really thought how
to be not just creative but competitive as well. She said that the generation is is behind a drive to redefine Japan as
a leader in design and innovation in terms of fashion, architecture, video
games, and hybrid. She said that their country is already transforming
itself in ways no other major economy has by completely redefining its national
mission to one of creativity and innovation. Also, Naoko told me that they are being taught and trained in
school to be more creative, have a greater tolerance for risk, and want to make
a real difference in the world.
To cap off this
entry, I highly believe that in each one of us, we have a potential to be
creative. We got it from our genes. It’s like a seed that our parents planted
and all we have to do is nurture it to grow and develop. Integral part of the
development is our society and its influence on how far can we go to be
creative. Japan is doing a great job in etching to the mind of their people to
sustain their credibility to be on top of the world in terms of being creative.
As for the Philippines, I think we have a great potential, it is good that in
this day and age, there is a strong influence of social media for us to be
creative and be innovative as Filipinos. But for as long as we don’t imitate and
create our own with Filipino heritage, we can be there on top and be competent
in terms of showing to the world that Filipinos are competitively creative as
well.
