I came across this video of Ken Robinson giving a short presentation at the TEDTalks. It is not only very informative, but very entertaining. His basic thesis is that our education is killing creativity, one of the most important things needed to face our uncertain future. At one point he says,
Unless you are prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.
He feels we are educating people out of creativity because mistakes are stigmatized. You can’t be wrong. Therefore there is nothing original encouraged. Picasso said that every child is an artist… the trick is staying an artist as you grow up.
I believe this to be true in religion as well. Creativity is not allowed because mistakes are not allowed. We are urged to become new creations, while the religious cultures we are a part of add on: “As long as you look like something we’ve seen before!” As one of my favorite artists, David Bazan, sings in “Selling Advertising“:
I know it’s hard to be original.
In fact, nothing scares me more.
Because Jesus only lets me do
what has been done before!
Man those lyrics get me because I’ve heard this used on people, including myself. It is true that as soon as you become unrecognizable, you are stigmatized. When you attempt to chart new territory, you are in for loneliness, alienation and rejection. History says so! Anyway, take a more light-hearted look and listen:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY]
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
I heard the other side of this at an academic conference recently where a book editor was speaking. It was one of those “How To Get Published” talks. In response to some rather tiresome and repetitive questions along the lines of “What kind of books do publishers want to publish?” the editor responded, somewhat angrily, that publishers often don’t KNOW what they’re looking for until they see it. That’s precisely because the best work is creative and original and no one could have guessed it until it appears.
I Love the TED talks and this is one of my favorites.
Fascinating, any chance you could become as hopeful of a new tomorrow as this guy Ken Robinson….and I don’t even know if he loves Jesus.
Maybe you could even leave that hole of loneliness you talked about last month and stop being such an Eeyore about everything.
Its dark these days David, probably more so in your part of the world than most, but “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.” Even better, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all”
Don’t we have to believe and focus on that?
If I have read your recent mood wrongly, forgive me, I have no desire to sound harsh but only to see you joyful.
I have enjoyed the TED talks as well. Have you seen the one on the Paradox of Choice? This talk actually made me respect my very quirky, but enlightened, husband more.
This talk on education makes me feel less crazy about my school experience- straight A student who was fidgety and hated every minute of school, until college. I want to “world school” my children. (It is sort of like homeschool, but we get out to museums and dance schools all the time instead of staying home
)
Thanks for this talk!
Wow, what a great speaker. I wish he could give this talk to every school board and state Dept. of Education there is.
We have a houseful of ADHD people, so I could relate. Our youngest was stifled in elementary school and probably would have been a better candidate for homeschooling. He’s in high school now, and still loves nothing better than “special projects” where he can get creative.
That was a great video. The point near the end is interesting – if humans were removed from the earth, it would flourish. It seems to me that most people take that as an indication that we are the enemy of the earth – when in actual fact the earth was created for us. It’s like saying “If you stopped all purchases, your bank account would flourish.” Of course it would, but that doesn’t mean that purchasing is bad. Obviously, he doesn’t mean it in the sense that we should all peace out – but there are many scientists who do think that way – and i find it interesting that the other perspective isn’t obvious to them.
This may not make sense – i’m not an experienced blogger like NP haha.
“Creativity is not allowed because mistakes are not allowed: (NP)
I really love this idea – since I also see mistakes as a learning tool for life (they need to exist and be there). I get what you mean by creativity being stifled in religious communities – religion can do that – it lays out ‘do’s and dont’s’ and a system – and either you find yourself pleasing that image or being rejected for not doing so. Maybe Christianity is becoming idolic in nature – with this church thingy? But most people that want to be themselves (and be creative) – usually leave church – since at church there brains are sometimes in suspended animation.
Have you guys seen this one about creativity and creation?
This guy is amazing!!
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/32