Art and Creativity in the Development of Brain Capacity - Research Paper Example

? Art and Creativity Safak Tulga English 102 Iklil Kaya Yildirim 6 July Art and Creativity 0 Introduction The current research in psychology has provided the society with enough data and information to reasonably conclude that art and creativity not only help in the development of brain capacity, but art could positively be considered to be the much necessary food for the brain (Goleman, 1996, p. 138). Arts and creativity allow the individuals and groups to engage in an open ended play like environment and extend to them a chance to develop the faculties like imagination, creativity, self confidence, self esteem, etc (Tanner, 2003, p. 234). Arts by their very nature manage to hide the strict rigor and discipline of the sciences, thereby seeming more acceptable and preferred by all people. Though arts help in the development and refining of creativity, yet, creativity is not an ability whose usage is typically confined to the area of arts. Today, more than ever, people use creativity in every aspect of their life, be it personal, social, cultural, psychological or professional. Enabling people to express their deeply held beliefs and feelings is what lies at the core of all art forms. Humans do have a fundamental instinct to express themselves, and they feel really fulfilled when they are able to convey their feelings and beliefs to others with all the accompanying complexity and versatility (Tanner, 2003, p. 233). Here in lies the true importance of art and creativity. In that context, avenues for practicing art and creativity lie at the core of all efficient academic systems, effective organizations and successful economic models of growth and development. 2.0 Importance of Arts in Schools Arts and works of creativity constitute the most potent custodians of that which is most representative, long lasting and timeless in any culture. In that context art and creativity do have a pivotal role in the schools. Arts could readily be considered to be a discipline that has a multi faceted approach towards things. Arts include within their scope the aspects of varied other disciplines like culture, heritage, history, sociology, etc. Teaching students about literature, drama, visual arts, dance and music pertaining to various eras and ages could be really motivating and enlightening (Davis, 2007, p. 15). For a student to be considered really well educated, it is important that one should not only learn how to appreciate the arts, but must also be extended ample opportunities and avenues to be able to participate and indulge in artistic expression and creativity. 2.1 Improvement of Long Term Success Rate The comprehension and appreciation of art requires refined cognitive abilities. So, an interest in arts not only teaches a person to look for the varied meanings and contexts hidden in a work of creative expression, but also aids the transfer of these skills to other areas of academic interests and pursuits (Davis, 2007, p. 46). Nature has endowed humanity with the most complex power called the human brain. Sadly, more than often students are expected and made to exercise their brains specifically for storing and retrieving information. This in the long run may prove to be boring and may discourage many students. However, arts allow the teachers to give way to variegated, colorful, interesting and stimulating environment at schools, which make the students get interested in their academic life (Davis, 2007, p. 48). Such an approach not only proves to be useful, but also improves the long term success rate of the students. 2.2 Arts Aid the Comprehension of other Course Materials Arts and creativity primarily impact the emotional aspects of any student’s personality and positively contribute to any pupil’s emotional IQ. Contemporary research in psychology has proven beyond doubt that emotional maturity plays as important a role in an individual’s long term success as IQ (Goleman, 1996, p. 35). Human intelligence is not a passive ability, but a dynamic power that continues to increase and improve throughout life. However, when human beings are placed in a passive environment that does not allow them to make the full use of all their senses, chances are that this may stop them from developing their abilities to their full potential (Fowler, 2001, p. 41). In contrast, arts create an environment that allows for the full development of all the senses and the related emotional, psychological and social abilities (Fowler, 2001, p. 40). The abilities refined by arts also help the students to improve their comprehension of other course materials. 3.0 Importance of Arts in Business Arts not only contribute to individual development and refinement but in a collective aspect have a marked impact on the varied dimensions of human development in any economy and society (Howkins, 2002, p. 6). Arts enhance the capacity of the citizens constituting an economy to develop and refine their potential for meaningful and constructive thought and action. These capacities once developed and refined not only help in bettering the life of an individual, but also make way for the creation of efficient, productive and successful businesses and economies. It is not without a reason that the economists throughout the world are today recognizing arts and culture as the important parts of production and economic growth (Howkins, 2002, p. 7). Participation and interest in arts enable the citizens in a country to develop a multifaceted and flexible approach towards issues and problems, an ability that extends a competitive advantage to the economies. 3.1 Instrumental to Proper Economic Development of Regions Platforms for personal and individual development are as central to the economic development of a region as industry and hard work. Arts do mostly have a healthy influence on the human component in an economy and are a primary source of self actualization and creative expression (Howkins, 2002, p. 4). History has shown that the answers to the problems being faced by a region in any age have mostly been given by arts. In Europe it was the Renaissance art that stimulated the leaders to get over the other worldly attitude of the Middle Ages, to focus on the development of all the aspects of the human potential (Janson, 2004). Again in the 18th century it was the Romantic art and literature that showed people the way to spontaneity and free expression, by downsizing the stiff rules laid down by the Classists (Janson, 2004). 3.2 Instrumental to Innovation within a Business Environment Formal education is of no use if it does not teach a person to come out with innovative and indigenous applications of the theoretical aspects of the acquired knowledge (Florida, 2003, 69). No discipline is as favorable and helpful to the enhancement of creativity and innovation as arts. Arts liberate the hitherto untied dimensions in the human mind and facilitate innovation and invention (Florida, 2003, p. 22). If an organization succeeds in employing a talented pool of creative people, innovation automatically follows (Florida, 2003, p. 130). Arts not only teach people the usefulness of developing a disciplined approach towards problems and challenges, but also help them acquire the required intensity and focus that are must for innovation and creativity. Innovation is basically about challenging the existing ways of doing things to come out with new approaches and ways that are more efficient, cost effective and appropriate. There is no denying the fact that it was mostly art that challenged the set notions in any age. 4.0 Importance of Art in Human Development It goes without saying that humanity and human emotions and issues mostly constitute the direct subject of most of the works of art. So arts along with the sciences do play a crucial role in human development and contribute to the welfare of the entire humanity. For the development of a proper and effective personality it is necessary for the individuals to be proud of their abilities and potential. Even people from the most underdeveloped countries and economies, when made to study and understand their native arts and culture, not only feel proud of their country, but also gain in terms of self confidence and self esteem (Howkins, 2002, p. 45). Arts are a discipline that enjoy a universal support and following amongst the people belonging to different nations, economies, cultures and backgrounds. 4.1 Crucial for Proper Intellectual Development Psychology has proven beyond doubt that logic and rationality constitute only one aspect of the human brain that is basically multifaceted, versatile and creative (Goleman, 1996, p. 169). The ability to understand and analyze the emotional relevance of issues and situations is one other very important aspect of the human brain, and it is mostly arts that help in the refinement and sharpening of these abilities (Gardner, 1991, p. 27). An art extends to the individuals and groups a chance to engage in acts of creativity and imagination, thereby directly contributing to their intellectual development. Famous behavioral psychologist Daniel Goleman in his renowned work Emotional Intelligence says that being smart does not only means to be very logical and rational, but rather the emotional elements like self discipline, self awareness and confidence also constitute a vital part of the overall human intellect and intelligence (1996, p. 35). No other field of human interest offers a chance for the exercise of all these human abilities as art. 4.2 Instrumental in Dealing with Daily Challenges of Life A person is required to deal with multiple challenges and situations on a day to day basis which put to test one’s emotional abilities like the power to empathize, tendency to work hard and creatively for long periods of time, the ability to approach and understand issues and topics from varied and multiple perspectives and dimensions, capacity to deal with the daily frustrations, failures, rejections and changes, and the ability to communicate effectively with people having different mental abilities, academic achievements and ethical backgrounds. Arts provide people with an imaginary environment where they can practice and watch, study and analyze the complex interplay of human emotions, capacities, abilities and tendencies under life like environment and situations. This makes the people engaging in arts develop ample maturity, insight, patience and communication skills (Goleman, 1996, p. 138). In that way, art, definitely help people in dealing with the daily challenges of life. 5.0 Conclusion Arts and creativity are the facets of human personality that are of timeless relevance and importance. In a way, it would not be wrong to say that the art and creativity constitute the central aspects of human existence and potential. Art not only give the individuals and groups a chance to polish and refine all their cognitive and sensory abilities, but also do make way for the creation of better, developed, prosperous, efficient and just societies. In that context, art and creativity should constitute an essential part of the activities aimed at promoting human development in any society and nation. References Davis, Jessica Hoffmann. (2007). Why our Schools Need the Arts. New York: Teachers College Press. Florida, Richard. (2003). The rise of the Creative Class. New York: Basic Books. Fowler, Charles. (2001). Strong Arts, Strong Schools: The Promising Potential and Shortsighted Disregard of the Arts in American Schooling. London: Oxford University Press. Gardner, Howard. (1991). Art Education and Human Development. New York: J Paul Getty Museum. Goleman, Daniel. (1996). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books. Howkins, John. (2002). The Creative Economy. New York: Penguin Global. Janson, Anthony F. (2004). History of Art. New York: Prentice Hall. Tanner, Jeremy. (2003). The Sociology of Art. London: Routledge. Read More