100 Things Number 1
Apr. 18th, 2012 10:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerFor some time now I have been stalled with a lot of projects. Not just fanfic, but other projects I've started. Naturally, I need to take on something else, don't I? *rolls eyes at self*
{Take the 100 Things challenge!}
So, my topic will be 100 Random Musings on Creativity. I actually hope that this will help to kick start me into a "getting done" mode on other things...
I think a lot about creativity. It is such an important part of my life that I can't even begin to think of not being able to create in some fashion, something. Of course, I am, as always, influenced by JRRT:
“Although now long estranged,
Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.
Dis-graced he may be, yet is not de-throned,
and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned:
Man, Sub-creator, the refracted Light
through whom is splintered from a single White
to many hues, and endlessly combined
in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
Though all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons- 'twas our right
(used or misused). That right has not decayed:
we make still by the law in which we're made.
Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories
The point being that under the Creator, we are sub-Creators. It is a part of our very being. I firmly believe that everyone has it in his or her ability, to create. Not only that, but to create in whatever mode he or she wishes, if only to try it once.
Some people are like me. I consider myself a "Jill of all trades and a mistress of none"; I like to try too many things to be tied down to one form of creativity. And I have discovered that different forms of creativity fill different sorts of needs in my life. That's something I hope to explore further in this challenge.
Some people are born with an intense passion for one particular form of creativity-- these are the geniuses of music or art or literature or drama or science, who never waver from their chosen path, and leave beauty and awe in their wake. Some like Mozart, Da Vinci, Tolkien, Shakespeare or Einstein make an indelible mark on the world. Others may only be known in a small area by an appreciative few, yet still their passion for their chosen creative outlet is undimmed.
Some people lose the will to make use of their creative outlets-- they have been beaten down by others, perhaps, who denigrated their earliest efforts, and now swear they can't do anything creative. Or perhaps they are defeated by their own perfectionism and their own dissatisfaction with what they have made: they see only the flaws in the finished project and not the joy they had in the making; or they perceive a flaw before they are even finished, and throw up their hands in despair and defeat.
It is this last group that I feel for. They go through life wishing they could do this or that, yet they've convinced themselves that they are completely incapable when all they really need is a good teacher with the patience to see them through (or lacking that, a few good books on the subject), and the ability to follow instructions. "I can't draw a straight line"; "I am too uncoordinated to knit"; "I could never dance, I have two left feet"; "I can't cook-- I can't even boil water"; "I wish I had the imagination to write a story"; etc. etc. etc.
Here is something I believe to be true: art is only about 10% talent; it is about 90% knowledge and technique. If you can read a cookbook and follow directions, then you can cook a meal that you and others will enjoy. Yes, perhaps someone who is a genius cook can turn a dish out with that extra seasoning of brilliance-- but that doesn't make what the rest of us cook inedible.
But what you make does not have to be brilliant: you only have to enjoy the process of making it and appreciate the outcome, EVEN IF IT IS NOT PERFECT!
And you don't have to be good at something to do it. I play piano very poorly-- but I have fun when I do play. And I'm not much of a dancer, either, but that doesn't stop me from giving it a try when I have the chance. I'm quite sure that if I put in the efforts needed to practice them more, I would get better.
But as I said, I'm not that focused, and there are many other lovely things to make, like stories...
I think I am going to try to work on my long overdue March challenge now.
{Take the 100 Things challenge!}
So, my topic will be 100 Random Musings on Creativity. I actually hope that this will help to kick start me into a "getting done" mode on other things...
I think a lot about creativity. It is such an important part of my life that I can't even begin to think of not being able to create in some fashion, something. Of course, I am, as always, influenced by JRRT:
“Although now long estranged,
Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.
Dis-graced he may be, yet is not de-throned,
and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned:
Man, Sub-creator, the refracted Light
through whom is splintered from a single White
to many hues, and endlessly combined
in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
Though all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons- 'twas our right
(used or misused). That right has not decayed:
we make still by the law in which we're made.
Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories
The point being that under the Creator, we are sub-Creators. It is a part of our very being. I firmly believe that everyone has it in his or her ability, to create. Not only that, but to create in whatever mode he or she wishes, if only to try it once.
Some people are like me. I consider myself a "Jill of all trades and a mistress of none"; I like to try too many things to be tied down to one form of creativity. And I have discovered that different forms of creativity fill different sorts of needs in my life. That's something I hope to explore further in this challenge.
Some people are born with an intense passion for one particular form of creativity-- these are the geniuses of music or art or literature or drama or science, who never waver from their chosen path, and leave beauty and awe in their wake. Some like Mozart, Da Vinci, Tolkien, Shakespeare or Einstein make an indelible mark on the world. Others may only be known in a small area by an appreciative few, yet still their passion for their chosen creative outlet is undimmed.
Some people lose the will to make use of their creative outlets-- they have been beaten down by others, perhaps, who denigrated their earliest efforts, and now swear they can't do anything creative. Or perhaps they are defeated by their own perfectionism and their own dissatisfaction with what they have made: they see only the flaws in the finished project and not the joy they had in the making; or they perceive a flaw before they are even finished, and throw up their hands in despair and defeat.
It is this last group that I feel for. They go through life wishing they could do this or that, yet they've convinced themselves that they are completely incapable when all they really need is a good teacher with the patience to see them through (or lacking that, a few good books on the subject), and the ability to follow instructions. "I can't draw a straight line"; "I am too uncoordinated to knit"; "I could never dance, I have two left feet"; "I can't cook-- I can't even boil water"; "I wish I had the imagination to write a story"; etc. etc. etc.
Here is something I believe to be true: art is only about 10% talent; it is about 90% knowledge and technique. If you can read a cookbook and follow directions, then you can cook a meal that you and others will enjoy. Yes, perhaps someone who is a genius cook can turn a dish out with that extra seasoning of brilliance-- but that doesn't make what the rest of us cook inedible.
But what you make does not have to be brilliant: you only have to enjoy the process of making it and appreciate the outcome, EVEN IF IT IS NOT PERFECT!
And you don't have to be good at something to do it. I play piano very poorly-- but I have fun when I do play. And I'm not much of a dancer, either, but that doesn't stop me from giving it a try when I have the chance. I'm quite sure that if I put in the efforts needed to practice them more, I would get better.
But as I said, I'm not that focused, and there are many other lovely things to make, like stories...
I think I am going to try to work on my long overdue March challenge now.
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no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 03:46 pm (UTC)One of mine is books/poems/films/shows/musicals/plays that I love. Another is going to be foods I love. I'm considering doing a third on religion-related things, which I know a lot of people won't read, but that's fine and that's part of why I have two categories everyone CAN enjoy. I'll earmark the religion ones as religion in the subject line and/or header so people won't have to read those unless they really WANT to. But the first two should be a lot of fun for everyone. :)
And BTW, I really really love your entry today. :)
Hugs,
Febobe :)
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 04:27 pm (UTC)And I love your post. Lately I've been doing a lot of cooking and I feel like I'm finally getting competent after years of thinking I couldn't cook at all. It's our own defeatism that stands in the way so much of the time. Becoming a writer after discovering the LOTR fandom has definitely helped me in other areas of my life, as far as feeling that 'hey, I can do this' rather than 'nope, no way I can do this'.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 05:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 05:07 pm (UTC)Too many people have the idea that if they can't be perfect on their first try, then they can't do it at all. Sometimes that's been pushed on them by others, sometimes it is from their own inner doubts.
But think what fun they miss out on!
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 05:21 pm (UTC)I (sadly) also know folks who won't even start a project or challenge if they don't think they can do it perfectly. I think that must constrict their worlds -- and their avenues of creativity -- very much.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 06:48 pm (UTC)I think that must constrict their worlds -- and their avenues of creativity -- very much.
*nods* It always bothers me when I hear people say wistfully "I could never do that." It's like they've given up before they've even started.
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Date: 2012-04-19 02:42 am (UTC)But perfect really is not possible, and even if it were, something is still better than nothing.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-19 01:49 pm (UTC)Thanks for saying this! I really enjoyed this post.