I'm going to argue that the word 'creativity' and the word 'fuck' can be seen (and perhaps used) as synonymous to one another. Mind you, not literally in the definition-sense of the word, but literally seen from a symbolic point of view.

Creativity is a funny little word. It can be used in almost every context, every landscape it encounters -and therewith being anything but little. A bit like the word fuck (with emphasis on 'a bit'), creativity and its many appearances (i.e. from being creative to actually creating something) can become meaningless over time and still bear so much significance with it. As demonstrated by the many ways fuck can be used within a sentence (e.g. "Fuck is probably the only fucking word that can be put every fuckingwhere and still make fucking sense", to demonstrate: "fuck you, you fucking fuck"), rarely actually meaning or directly referring to the act of, well, fucking, but -as we all mostly understand when being confronted with it- as a swear word. And in some cases the word fuck is just being used to fill up an otherwise empty space.


It's on the internet where the most important questions are being asked. Hugo -if that's his real name- wondered if there's "a succinct word for the 'itch' to do something creative? For example having a niggle in your brain where only doing something creative can make it go away?"

And it's also on the internet where the most valuable suggestions are being given to answer these questions. So, is there a word for the urge to do something creative? Well... : Procreative, insanity, inspiration (although the submitter thinks that it's a different idea, rather something that leads to the urge of doing something creative), stricken by the muse, creative drive, creative frenzy or variations on that with fervor and fever, creative impulse, the more poetic creative stir, which leads us almost inevitably back to just creative urge. It's in the question, really.


So is there a succinct word for the 'itch' to do something creative? Well, not really would be my answer. It all depends on how you approach this creative drive in the first place. The actual question that needs to be asked first might not be the word we're looking for, but the definition we attach to it. As FumbleFingers (lovely username) rightfully stated: "Define 'being creative'. How does the urge to be creative differ from a more general urge to do something?" You've got me there, FumbleFingers! So what's the distinction between the 'creative process' and the 'doing process'?


Believe it or not, but there's no one who's come up with a 'doing process'. Yet. Yes, 'to do' is often being mentioned within other processes or cycles (for instance: Kolb's learning cycle, to do: learning by experience). You could say that doing therefore can be seen as a step to get closer to something, but not the actual goal to achieve (tell that to all us procrastinators... *sigh*). You can show your creativity through doing something. Knitting a jumper, writing a book or idk painting chewing gum. "What's important is the creative process", said the chewing gum painter, but not a word is being spoken about the actual 'doing'. Because -and this is my guess- the 'doing' part is often being included within the idea of the 'creative process', it's part of it -by doing you 'visualize' the creativity (which can lead you to painting chewing gum).


There are however surprisingly (or better said: suprisingly to me) a lot of different cycles of creativity. It apparently happens to be a vivid research topic -or better said: research question- within philosophy, psychology and most probably some other subjects ending with -y. To get a good idea of creativity, we'll be needing some definitions... Within defining the definition of creativity, there's a distinctive difference made between 'creativity' and 'creative thinking'. The two are definitely linked to one another and one could claim intertwined, but they aren't the same thing. Or at least, they can be seen as two separate -yet intertwined- things (confusing, I know).


Both definitions are very similar. Both say that creativity produces something 'which did not exist before' and is thus 'original'. In the first definition there's no talk about how this is being done and emphasis on the result of creativity, namely 'a product, a process or a thought'. The second definition does state that creativity is made out of 'imagination' and 'original ideas' which 'especially' leads to 'the production of an artistic work'. Or maybe it's even the basis of the production of an artistic work. Artistic work thus can't be made without creativity. Which makes you wonder what 'artistic' actually entails, according to Google:


Which brings us to art:


As I stated earlier, the visualization or the actual imaging of 'creativity' is blindly seen as being part of the 'creative process'. Creativity produces a product, process or thought which is being shown through the making of something -most probably art or artistic. Important to note are the different uses of creativity ('creative skill', 'creative activity') which makes the art/artistic products. And therewith not to forget the most overpowering word: imagination.

(last definition most definitely being the most accurate yet most unexplanatory definition ever. What's imagination? That's when you imagine things. Seriously?).

Am I the only one who feels like walking in circles?


May it be clear that creativity in this sense is mostly seen from an active point of view. Creativity is seen as being part of producing something (through actually doing something to imagining something -which is essentially doing something but not visualizing it -to some extent). I personally think that being creative doesn't necessarily always have to be dependend or meaningful when it's actually 'performed' or 'done'. You can also be creative in a more passive manner, where there doesn't need to be a process going on of actually making this creativity visible in anyway (mental creativity is still creativity, right?!). And that's where the 'creative thinking' comes in.


Sounds familiar, right? Creative thinking has many similarities to the above mentioned words and definitions (especially imagination). Creative thinking isn't necessarily been made 'public' through visualization -however according to the first definition of creativity, this also doesn't always have to be the case in that sense (creativity can be shown through thoughts). Central to creative thinking however is the 'merging of ideas'...


Important within this definition are the words 'suggestion' and 'possible'. It's a sign of uncertainty. It's just an idea, it's just something that came from my imagination, creative thinking, a thought. Which can bring us to creativity and therefore perhaps the creation of art or something artistic, but doesn't necessarily have to. So the difference between the urge of just 'doing' and 'being creative' is that the one is part of the other. Doing is part of being creative, creating thereby being directly linked to that 'process' (however, as you can see in the definition below, without the pressure of it needing to be original or it relying on imagination).



Love,
Dominique


What I'm Wearing: Blouse - Made by me / Skirt - Jil Sander / Bag - Vintage / Necklace: Vintage / Belt: Gift from my aunt / Hat - Primark (old) / Shoes - H&M (old) /
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