Valuing Creativity - Essay Example

The Value of Creativity Introduction Creativity as defined as “the ability to create”. Another definition by Robert E Franken of creativity is “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”. It goes to show that creativity is something which is inherent to an individual as he can find a number of different ways through which his creative intent can be manifested. His creativity cannot be dissolved into different areas yet each one of the creative elements seems to play their positive role in his upbringing and personal as well as professional development (Sawyer 2006). On the same token, creativity is the need for being fresh, novel and absolutely unique so that the complex stimulation comes about of age in the most apt manner. This paper will explore the basis of creativity and how it has been able to change beliefs, shape ideas and transform different understandings into the molds and lives of the people at large. Body Creativity is a much desired proposition, more so on the part of the people who believe in its magic. Creativity is all about communicating ideas, values, beliefs and opinions, though in differential settings, ways and means. Creativity is indeed the magic that binds people in wholly different mannerisms and it asks of them to appreciate the creative talent that a person has demonstrated for that matter. Therefore it is a very important element of bringing sanity within the ranks of different work avenues. Within the fields of culture and business, creativity has its most say. This is because these two areas depict the need for having creativity and thus manifest the exact basis of success in the most apt manner possible. It also goes to show that creativity will rule the roost of the cultural and business quarters if the desire is there to succeed. Within the cultural contexts, creativity comes of age when the people are relying a great deal on the people to people interactions (Cropley 2006). It means that their associations, linkages and relationships are being justified in such a manner that success will eventually shape up in the most appropriate way. It would not be wrong to state here that creativity under the aegis of culture would manifest success, harmony and development for all the right reasons. It would also dictate the basis of finding out the exact details which will embody cultural bonding amongst the people, making them realize as to how they can effectively counter the movements which are happening against the cultural norms (Amabile 1996). It can also reinforce the message that the cultural awakenings are delivering on the same count nonetheless (Howkins 2002). Deeply ingrained cultural meanings and depictions have stood the test of time and thus a number of definitions have been coined over time. This has meant that people have been able to deliver their personal thoughts in quantifiable capacities, suggest pathways to look at alternatives and thus seek newer grounds to make their voices heard in wholly differential ways and means. Culturally speaking, people have been able to experience the different nuances of their societal representations in varied forms, expressions and settings. From a business standpoint, creativity means quite a lot of things since the world of business banks on areas from where target audiences get in touch with the corporate world through its different goods and services. The world of advertising is very much focused on the strengths and positives that are drawn out from creativity. This is an important understanding that has come to the fore over a period of time, and it would not be wrong to state that creativity has a definitive role to play within the creative deliverables and execution platforms of advertising (Phaidon Editors 2007). Creativity is the backbone of clutter free advertising as it delivers the right message at the right time to the right set of audiences in the right capacity. This is the reason why creativity has been able to sell more and more in the present times and hence has made a name for itself in the changing global dynamics of business. Business avenues and regimes have long understood the need for having creativity within their ranks so that it could produce cutting edge messages and allow the audience to understand the different nuances as to how the brands are trying their best to reach them (Gogatz & Mondejar 2004). Creativity also spells out impressions that leave an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of the people. They like to associate themselves with the brands and services which are downright creative and have the knack to sell through the emotional angle. The business fraternity is constantly on the run for hiring individuals who excel within the creative fields and are able to showcase their true talents within the creativity regimes. Such people are given the appreciation that they richly deserve because then is the time that their true representation is shown. What is even more interesting is the fact that advertising agencies are finding people who are very intelligent and who can think ‘out of the box’ so to speak. These exceptional people are usually very different from others in the fact that they defy the norms and look for finding solutions which are not available elsewhere. Their solutions start from where the ordinary man’s problems stem from. The public relations firms are also bent upon recruiting individuals who believe in being creative and over the board all at the same time. This helps them in developing their business base as well as finding out different nuances and settings which would further their company’s portfolio. Hence all such issues are given top most priority in the most apt manner possible. From a historical perspective, emphasis on creativity being at the helm of cultural manifestations stands as a very dubious subject. This is because creativity used to be incorporated whenever there was a work of genius displayed. However, with the passage of time, things have changed and people have started to realize the true worth of creativity within their ranks as well as in interactions with the ones around them. This has made them feel empowered in the literal sense of the word. Interaction amongst the people in olden days used to be different than it is at the present. Hence the element of creativity was pretty different to what it has been coined in this day and age (Tierney 1999). This marks the very basis of success that has been achieved over time as well as mentions the negativities which have come about within the relevant domains. Therefore it would not be wrong here to suggest that creativity is a much desired proposition, and one which brings a great amount of value and weight for one and all concerned. Speaking of the creativity angles within the business circles in yesteryears, creativity used to be a thing that was high in demand. Same is the case in the time and age of today where creative geniuses are being given heavy perks just to showcase what they really are and how they can change beliefs. The advertising agencies and media workshops are therefore very receptive to the idea of getting those employees on board who have a knack of knowing more and exploring their very basis so that success could be shared at both ends (Dartnall 2002). This is a kind of symbiotic relationship that starts to develop and which must be inculcated at all times possible. What is even more interesting is the fact that organizations in the time and age of today have instituted separate units and divisions to take care of the creativity regimes so that they do not miss out on the same count at all. Therefore both culture and business manifestations have been seriously facilitated by the creativity drive over the last 2-3 decades. With the growing developments within the field of Information Technology and the dependence on state of the art machinery and tools, the role of creativity has come out in a magnanimous manner nonetheless. This is an important undertaking that has been seriously addressed by the people who are at the helm of affairs within the creative realms and who have for long believed in the dictum that change can only come about when it accepted with both arms wide open. Having said that there is a dire need to address the concerns of the creative professionals since they believe that they are being hard done by, by different people who have more influence over their work than their own selves (Bohm 2004). These issues need to be resolved at the earliest so that the creativity regimes can heave a sigh of relief and there could be more developments within the related fields in the coming days. It would be correct to state here that culture as well as business regimes have been benefited a great deal by the creative professionals over the years and the credit for the same must go on their shoulders nonetheless. In essence, creativity is one important element of understanding what the human mind can trek into and how it can shape up actions based on sound beliefs and varied approaches. Conclusion In the end, it would be adequately sound to state that creativity is at the heart of a number of important things within the business and cultural settings. It brings to light issues which have remained untouched over a long period of time. It has touched boundaries which were unexplored in the recent past as well as in the olden times. The true value of creativity comes of age when one deciphers the exact meaning behind communicating with the intended target audiences in the way that it ‘connects’ for a double benefit; not only for the people but also for the ones who are bringing about this creativity to the fore in the first place (Carter 2004). The essence of creativity is therefore to cultivate harmony and goodness across the board, without any shortcoming that could have been exposed in the past. All said and done, creativity is the lone savior of hope and development as it touches quite a few salient aspects, and brings down a number of others so that the connected feel does not go stray. This is indeed a very important aspect of understanding the nuances behind creativity and how it works to best effect to deal with the underlying issues of change and development in the long run scheme of things. Bibliography AMABILE, T. (1996). Creativity in Context: Update to the Social Psychology of Creativity. Westview Press BOHM, D. (2004). On Creativity. Routledge CARTER, R. (2004). Language and Creativity: The Art of Common Talk. Routledge CROPLEY, A. (2006). Creativity: A Social Approach. Roeper Review, Vol. 28 DARTNALL, T. (2002). Creativity, Cognition, and Knowledge: An Interaction. Praeger GOGATZ, A. & MONDEJAR, R. (2004). 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