SEEING BEYOND / NO. 12 / 2nd MARCH 2024

 Creativity

    Dear readers, I was thinking about how the going gets tougher and tougher each day, while I racked my head trying to think of something to write about for my blog. It challenges me to think of a topic that everyone can relate to and find enlightening. Alright, enough with the complaints; Now I'm going to blog about creativity.

    The other day my professor gave us four broad categories that encompasses all the occupations in this world:

  • manual
  • office
  • professional
  • art
    He went on to say that among these four, being an artist is the most challenging. An artist's job is to crush his brain and bring something new, not only to entertain but to educate and empower the society at large. Letting one's imagination free to bring in the ideas and to channelize them in a properly organized fashion is challenging. That's when I was reminded of what Albert Einstein said,

“Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought” 



    The prophetic aspect of a poet is discussed by William Wordsworth in his "Immortality Ode". He defined a poet as someone who is able to perceive beyond their immediate vicinity. "Best Philosopher, Mighty Prophet, Seer Blest" are some  of the numerous epithets he uses to address the poet. Not just poets, but artists in general, are "Seers". 

    They perceive the ordinary and produce the extraordinary. While everybody can admire the beauty of a rose plant, discussing its thorns and leaves requires an entirely distinct ability. Every artist pays close attention to their surroundings. They see the same things that the rest of us do, but their minds view things differently. They make several connections and bring forth a beautiful piece of art. In their own fields, painters, musicians, writers, dancers, and all other artists work in the same way.

    As I write this, the usage of conceits (exaggerated metaphors) by Metaphysical poets comes to mind. Samuel Johnson said  "in John Donne's poetry heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together."  John Donne is one of the predominant figures in metaphysical poetry. 

   The poem "A Valediction: Forbidden Mourning" by John Donne compares a couple's relationship to the legs of a compass. In his spiritual poem, "Batter My Heart", he claims that he is an usurped town taken under control by the enemy. For an ordinary person, these comparisons are inconceivable. Ideas such as this can only originate from an artistic mind that is full of creativity and imagination.

   Being a scientist who works with precise solutions and data supported by facts, Einstein defines creativity as thinking beyond what others have thought. An artist sees what others see, yet his perception extends beyond the realm of the physical world. 

"Creativity is not about just Seeing things but Seeing through things."


Regards,

S. Jennifer Sandra


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MONKEY BARS/ C.S. LEWIS/ NO.1/ FEBRUARY 20th 2024

FRIENDS LIKE FAMILY / NO. 19 / 9th MARCH 2024