Real Academics Blog

Dear Real Academics,  What is creativity?  In graduate school, I took a whole course on the topic, but I honestly don't think I can define "creativity" for you as I write, at this moment. So, for today's post, I wanted to present some different definitions, share some ideas, and ask for your thoughts. Here we go! If I search "What is creativity?" I get the following top three definitions from Google with their respective sources: (1) "Creativity is defined as   the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others ."  http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/creativity/define.htm (2) "Creativity is the ability to transcend traditional ways of thinking or acting, and to develop new and original ideas, methods or objects". https://99designs.com/blog/creative-thinking/what-is-creativity/ (3) "Creativity encompasses the ab...

Dear Real Academics, When my husband was in graduate school, he took a course in the Department of Visualization at Texas A&M University. One of the course topics was about the difference between "looking" and "seeing". I am NO expert, but my understanding of this distinction is that "looking" is a physical act and "seeing" is a mental process of perception. I was reminded of the existence of this conceptual distinction when my husband and I watched a movie based on the life of Louis Wain this weekend ( The Electrical Life of Louis Wain on Amazon Prime with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role).  I knew little to nothing about Louis Wain. In a nut shell, I learned how Wain used his creative drawing ability to bring life and humor to readers through drawing cats. He also helped people in Victorian England warm up to the idea of keeping cats as pets (nice!). In the film, Louis' wife at one point compliments him for his ability to "lo...