Society: Creativity Assassin?

Sometimes I think it’s a wonder that people are able to grow up and have any creativity at all. Why? Because the world is filled with “creativity assassins.” They may not even know they are one, but nonetheless, they are out there, like a conformist sleeper cell just waiting to be activated…

As I had previously written about in my An Example of How School Tried to Beat the Creativity Out of Me post, my third grade class used to have “creative writing assignments.” We would be given a topic and then would have to sit there in class and write a story on that topic.

On one such day my teacher was absent and we had a substitute. The sub gave us the topic and said, “you can write about anything.”

A bell went off in my head! Anything? We could write about anything? Did that mean I did not have to stick to the topic? Hmmmmm…

I asked the sub, “do we have to stick to the topic or can we write about anything?”

The sub looked at her notes and said, “it says you can write about anything.”

Awesome! I was going to let my creativity fly…

I wrote quite a story that day! If I recall correctly it involved a guy being shrunk down in size, creating grappling hooks out of paper clips and thread, and defeating a rat in physical combat by flipping him onto a stove. Creative stuff. I would surely be applauded for my creativity on this creative writing assignment, right…?

Cut to a few days later. My teacher is back, and she is handing back the graded stories. Yes, they were “grading” our creative writing assignments. But not, it seems, on creativity.

The teacher actually talks to me individually and says, “what is this story? This wasn’t the assignment at all.”

“But I asked the sub and she said we could write about anything,” I said.

“You were supposed to write on the topic. You’ve done these assignments before, you should have known better.”

And then I was asked to rewrite the story, this time on topic.

What.

The.

Heck?!?!?

I get the fact that this was an “assignment,” and there were parameters. But this was a creative writing assignment. For third graders. Can we not assume that the point was to simply develop and nurture students’ creativity?? I’m not asking to be rewarded for my creativity on, say, solving a math problem. I’m simply asking to be rewarded for my creativity on an assignment on creativity. Is that so wrong?

If I recall correctly, one of the toughest things about being 8 years old is that you have the insight to sense illogic and stupidity but neither the experience to express it properly nor the respect to be allowed to.

I get it. Sort of. You can’t have students disregarding instructions (even if by doing so they more than fulfill the spirit and objective of said assignment). But why make someone wrong for being creative on a creative writing assignment?

Hell, even James T. Kirk got a commendation for “original thinking” for cheating on the Kobayashi Maru test…

But no, rather than being lauded for creativity, I was punished for a lack of conformity.

And therein lies the rub: A lot of people talk a big game on creativity, but at the end of the day what they really want is conformity.

I once heard a speaker say, “The number one trait employers look for in employees is creativity. The number one trait they reward is conformity.”

(Help me out if you can: I don’t remember the speaker I heard say that, and I don’t have the study that backs it up. if you know either, please let me know)

Even though I don’t remember the source, I don’t doubt that statement in the least. From an early age, we are mostly rewarded for conformity and “good behavior.” True creativity is often met with confusion, disapproval, and alienation.

So what can you do? A few things:

Get in Touch With Your Creative Side

Just because the world has been beating the creativity out of you for years doesn’t mean you have to put up with it! You can start doing things today to reconnect with that part of yourself. Check out my free MP3, How to Think Quick. Read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Hell, just sit down and try writing something.

Help Foster Others’ Creativity

The world is changing. Knowledge of facts and figures is important, but it is becoming more and more important to be able to think. Developing creativity is the first step in that process. Whether it is to your kids, students, coworkers, employees, or friends, support and applaud other people’s creativity. Even if the end result is not what you want, help support and develop the creative process that got them there. Don’t beat it out of them.

Take a Good Look at Yourself

In addition to the two things above, you should also take a look at what you are currently doing. If you are in a position to influence, supervise, or teach others, is your message consistent with your actions? Are you grading creative exercises on everything but creativity? Are you asking people to “think outside of the box,” and then smacking them down for their crazy ideas?

I hope so, because if not you are part of the problem and definitely not part of the solution.

Remember, a third grader may not have the experience or respect to articulate his disdain for your lack of logic. But someday that third grader is going to grow up, start a blog, and tell you to shove your creative writing assignment up your creativity assassinating ass.

🙂

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By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+

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