Creativity – it is something that is absolutely unique to each and every person in the world. We all give it different meanings. For somebody – it is a perfect way to solve some conflict or problem in a different, more effective way. For others – it is the way, how they can show themselves to the world, how they can stand out. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi creativity is how people can express their interesting thoughts and how they are able to change the world around them, because of it. (What is creativity? (n.d.)) All of the abovementioned is true. It founds its absolute reflection in the real life. But still, even this upbringing phenomenon sometimes seems to go extinct. Why does it happen and how to keep it? To answer these questions, two articles were chosen to be discussed – “The 5 Most Dangerous Creativity Killers” by Gregory Ciotti and “Use "Weird Rules" To Boost Your Creativity” by Scott McDowell. They seem to be different at all their points. Still, the main common thing is about Creativity itself.
So, the first article is short but clear. The author gives his own opinion and indicates reader’s attention on five main reasons, why creativity may be gone. All of those “creativity killers”, suggested by Gregory Ciotti apply to each of us, depending on a situation. However, one of them seems to be common to everyone. It is the Discouragement or No Positive Feedback. The author is right, giving this “killer” a psychological background. An explanation is clear: no positive feedback – no motivation, consequently: without motivation – no creativity.
Why do people encourage children when they are doing art? The answer is - to train and develop their sense of creativity. The main conclusion is that we must be aware of what is killing our creativity, so that we will be able to fight against it. ((Ciotti, G. (n.d.)))
That is why, on my opinion, this particular article has now weak points. The author decided to finish it in a creative way – he left the only question: “What kills your creativity?” to make others think. All points of that article are relevant to our modern real life, and I am not exclusion. As it was abovementioned, being aware of what “kills” my creativity – I will find the way how to deal with it. (Ciotti, G. (n.d.))
The second article is more concentrated on different ways how to keep and develop your creativity in day – to – day life. At the first sight, these tips are more directed onto workers of different companies. For example, “Seek out ways to avoid, distract, and bore customers”. It seems to be wrong, but it does work. Generally speaking, the author cites Robert I. Sutton, paying attention to some unusual tips on how to develop your creativity that still may be used in our real life. (McDowell, S. (n.d.))
Paying attention on strong sides, on my opinion, it is important to mention that this particular article – is authors personal point of view onto which tip is more interesting or weird. As in the case of the first article, here the author left a question to the reader: “What are your weird rules for sparking creativity?”, so that everyone may be involved into the critical thinking process. (McDowell, S. (n.d.)) Consequently, there are no weak points as well. The conclusion is simple: though, all those tips mostly refer to workers of different companies, they may be helpful in different day – to – day life situations. All that is needed – is to catch the main idea of each tip and analyze, how relevant it is to you.
Comparing these two articles, it is important to start with one main difference: they are concentrated on two opposite specific points – “creativity killers” and “creativity developing”. But, here goes few basic similarities as well. The first one: is that they both are cognitively important to the reader. We can get a lot of information, we can use later. The second one – the structure: both articles were completed as a short list of useful tips with a leading question to the reader. This is the main common strong side of both abovementioned articles. Of course, the second article ““Use "Weird Rules" To Boost Your Creativity” by Scott McDowell gives the best ideas in terms of developing everyday creativity as it pays attention on some already prepared tips, so that readers can start follow them right away. However, the article “The 5 Most Dangerous Creativity Killers” by Gregory Ciotti still appears to me more, as here people can find themselves in different life situations, so that they can think on their own ways how to keep and develop their creativity. If person wants to achieve some goals, for example, to bring back the creativity – he or she is able to change their behavior and attitude towards some particular things in their life. Still, as Thomas Edison said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." Without any hard work, the creativity will transform from the instrument of reaching goals into the simple dream or intention to change something. Only fighting for our goals, only trying all possible ways, only accepting failures and having a will not to stop after first victory we can get what we want and become someone, we always wanted to be.
Works cited
Ciotti, G. (n.d.). The 5 Most Dangerous Creativity Killers. Retrieved July 26, 2015, from http://99u.com/articles/14599/the-5-most-dangerous-creativity-killers
McDowell, S. (n.d.). Use "Weird Rules" To Boost Your Creativity. Retrieved July 26, 2015, from http://99u.com/articles/6998/use-weird-rules-to-boost-your-creativity
What is creativity? (n.d.). Retrieved July 26, 2015, from http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/creativity/define.htm
