Date Posted:18:20:13 02/21/07 Wed Author:Evelyn Moore Subject: Re: Intelligence and Creativity In reply to:
Lila Kayali
's message, "Intelligence and Creativity" on 09:56:10 02/20/07 Tue
I would like to add that I agree with the article and the statement, "... that our creativity level is repressed through school and by society, and so our ways of thinking become more of a habit, but the ability to be creative still exists." I would like to state that as a child growing up in America neither my mother or father has a high school education, but insisted that I become the first high school graduate in my family. This same family told me that I could do anything that I set my mind to do. There was not limit to what I could accomplish. My faith taught me that "I can do all things thought Christ that strengthens me". As a result, I graduated from high school and then college with honors in 4 1/2 years; received my Master in Business Administration; recorded my first album where I played the piano and sang; received my real estate license; promoted step by step from a Level I Agent to a Level 25 Analyst in 9 years at Federal Express without a degree in business; and I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching. IQ or not if you can believe it you can achieve it, regardless of the environment where you live. I grew up poor but determined to succeed on my own terms. As an African American growing up in the late fifties and sixties, society told me one thing, but my family, those close to me empowered my thinking. I am a living witness, creativity still exists, only you can stop it.
The article you posted was very interesting; I enjoyed it a lot! I found a two points particulary interesting. First, the article mentioned that when we primarily use our left hemisphere(the logical side of the brain) and neglect the right hemisphere, the neurons actually "wither." This leads me to the second point that stood out. Even as we praise the creative inventions and masterpieces of others, we are judging these creative works with a bias emphasizing convergent thinking. The article states "The most important creative work is useful, relevant or effective. And it is the left hemisphere that conducts this self-evaluation as creative thoughts bubble up from the right." How can you judge creativity if you are basing it on something that is counter-creative?
