Media Relations with Creative Theorists

Rank's Creative Type:
Once the first Star Wars movies had been filmed, George Lucas seems to have been at a pinnacle of his career.  He seems well-adjusted and can look back and see what successes he created.  This interview is after the release of his first movie and is about how he got started.  Initially it was a low budget film and he had difficulties, but I believe that today he fits well into Rank's creative type.
"Star Wars VHS (1995) George Lucas interview"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCzGerUThSg

Jung's Psychological Type:
A person would draw from the experiences of human consciousness.  The depictions of Homer in this montage demonstrate and mirror possible life experiences that some people may encounter.
"Homer's Life in Two Minutes"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_3qlxBQnRY&feature=related

Jung's Visionary Type & Primordial Archetypes:
Sidney Sheldon, the creator of the television series "I Dream of Jeannie", may represent Jung's visionary type. The series was aired originally on NBC in response to the successful series "Bewitched" on ABC. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_dream_of_jeannie) Perhaps the Bewitched series gave Sheldon the enlightenment he needed to waken the primordial archetype that previously was dormant in his brain.
"I Dream of Jeannie opening"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XELze7CXKjk

Torrance's Creative Type:
Lucille Ball in the show I Love Lucy uses the creative process as described by Torrance in many episodes.  He says that it should be a "natural process" and although most of her endeavors end in hysterical disaster, in many episodes you can see the steps: finding a problem, forming ideas, testing the ideas, and communicating results with other characters of the show.
"I Love Lucy- The Candy Wrapping Job"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uztA6JCKB4s&feature=related

The Creative Press:
The Show "Fringe" is about a special division of the FBI known as Fringe; this department specializes in unusual science and unexplained happenings in the world.  Olivia Dunham and her team are given liberties to investigate crime scenes and explore evidence further in Walter Bishop's lab.  This environment allows freedom to explore creatively and determine all possibilities to answer questions that arise in relation to the current situation.
"Fringe- Past + Present + Future"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxQWm7FiEKk&feature=related

Mental Happenings
Art:

"I hope that my work will encourage self expression in others and stimulate the search for beauty and creative excitement in the great world around us."

- Ansel Adams

This artist's photography many times inspires me to look at nature in different ways and to always appreciate the beauty of the world I live in.  

Ansel Adams
http://www.anseladams.com/

Music:
I have heard some say that Michael Jackson is like a modern day Mozart because of the number of pieces he wrote including the work (of both) that was never released.  Michael Jackson dictated his music into a recorder instead of writing it down, so this mirrors the speed that Mozart and Beethoven put their music into production. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson)
"Michael Jackson- Thriller"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

Science:
Adam Savage, a co-host of Discovery Channel's program "Myth Busters", has spent his life gathering knowledge and skills to create the things he reads about.  On his show, he and the crew of Myth Busters prove or disprove theories submitted by performing experiments on camera.  They always seem excited to hypothesize and make their own discoveries.
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/meet/adam-savage.html
Jamie Hyneman, also a co-host on "Myth Busters" , in addition to performing experiments on TV, he owns a company called M5 Industries Inc. Within his personal business, he creates and explores technologies "ranging from defense to green vehicle design".
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/meet/jamie-hyneman.html

Literature:
The author of the Harry Potter series is extremely creative indeed! I find the questions asked in this interview very interesting.  I also like that she says (toward the end of this clip) that she has intentions of continuing to write, not necessarily about Harry Potter, but she cannot imagine herself ever not writing.
"J. K. Rowling on NBC (Part 1)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBQ7HXHn6ic&feature=related

Can Transformation

When I read about this assignment, I immediately thought about making a face or person out of a soda can.  However, for some reason, this seemed too common place- although I am not sure why because it is not often that I see a soda can with a face on it.  After dismissing this first idea, I asked my husband, Nick, what I should create with my can.  We both thought about this for a few days, and then I had an epiphany.  I was thinking about the can and how we get them: from the grocery store shelf, in a box, from a machine.  The last idea there, from a machine, made me think how cool it would be to have a soda can that generated soda cans.  While on that train of thought, the idea of a gumball machine came to mind; this was a more feasible idea with consideration to size and available materials.  I had help from my husband and friends in thinking of what materials to use to create the gumball machine. 
In the end, Nick and I gathered the materials and ideas and approached the cans.  I created the soda can gumball machine from the Coke can with the glass container on the top, and he created the soda can gumball machine from the Mellow Yellow can with the glass container in the middle.

10 Traits of the Creative Personality

In this article, Csikszentmihalyi notes 10 different traits that can be displayed by individuals that are creative.  While some individuals display each trait or many traits, other people with a creative personality only openly display a few or one of these traits.

1. Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they're also often quiet and at rest.
Ludwig von Beethoven comes to mind when I read this statement because he took his time when he composed music.  He enjoyed walking in the country and enjoying nature; this is exemplified by his Pastoral Symphony.

2. Creative people tend to be smart yet naive at the same time.
My good friend Sharon is an art teacher who is wonderful at what she does, but many times remains naive when it comes to some students' behaviors or performances in her classroom.  This can be a good thing because she puts trust in children that other teachers do not.

3. Creative people combine playfulness and discipline, or responsibility and irresponsibility. 
Giada De Laurentiis, a chef on Food Network, combines her playful personality which shines through the dishes she creates, with a certain discipline in that she diligently works off camera to create new recipes to share with her viewers.

4. Creative people alternate between imagination and fantasy, and a rooted sense of reality.
Walt Disney is a creative person who thought very much about fantasy as he created his characters, but also seemed rooted in reality as a businessman as he created Disneyland as a playground for adults and children alike.

5. Creative people tend to be both extroverted and introverted.
Without regards to politics and "sides" I think that President Obama is extroverted and introverted.  He is the leader of our nation and is many times in the public eye, but he also seems to be a quiet family man who enjoys the company of his wife and daughters and relishes time spent alone with them.

6. Creative people are humble and proud at the same time.
This statement brings to mind my mom.  She is a middle school teacher and is proud of her work, but never boasts about how well her students perform on tests.

7. Creative people, to an extent, escape rigid gender role stereotyping.
Duff Goldman, the owner of Charm City Cakes, takes on a role of baking exquisite cakes and does this in a way that far removes him from the stereotype that women should be bakers.

8. Creative people are both rebellious and conservative.
Igor Stravinsky, a Russian composer famous for his ballets was extremely rebellious in composing his "Rite of Spring".  However, many of his other pieces were conservative and were composed within the "boundaries" of music of that time.

9. Most creative people are very passionate about their work, yet they can be extremely objective about it as well.
My dad is a stone mason and is passionate about creating fireplaces, chimneys, sidewalks, and other stone structures so that they are exactly what the homeowner desires or more.  He is also critical of his own work and the work of other masons to help himself become better each time he works.

10. Creative people's openness and sensitivity often exposes them to suffering and pain, yet also to a great deal of enjoyment.
My sister is a flute performance major attending Florida State University in their Masters of Performance degree program.  She exposes herself daily to the possibility of criticism when she practices knowing that she will perform those exact pieces in front of a larger audience than just a professor; however, she feels much joy when she performs well, knowing that the practice has paid off.

Reflection 2: 9/5/11

Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking

A Whack on the Side of the Head- this is exactly what some people may need in order to understand they their comments are idea squelches.  von Oech must have listened to many people during his research and has accurately identified 10 comments that will cause individuals to have second thoughts about thinking creatively.
Below are a few of the barriers he has listed that I hear often:

1. To Err Is Wrong-  Not only in education, but in the society we live in, we live in constant fear of making a mistake.  I recall many times, especially in high school, when I would consider different answers for problems in class, but when I could get away with it, I would not write down a final answer until it was discussed as a class.  I did not want the answer on my paper to be wrong and did not want others to know that I had made any errors.  Later on as a music teacher, I noticed that I had many students that would sing very softly in my class.  I encouraged students to sing out and be proud of their voices, but children as young as kindergarten and first grade would sing quietly for fear their voice was on the wrong pitch.  On the other hand, I did thankfully still had young children who would sing out loud and did not notice the funny looks the other students gave them as they sung incorrect pitches.  During these  moments, I gave praise to all the students who sounded their voices loudly, and worked more directly for a couple of minutes on matching pitches with their voices without singling out individuals.
2. That's Not My Area- This phrase seems to come in handy for some individuals who approach a music teacher with a question.  Teachers sometimes came to me with a classroom or library book in hand and asked if  I would help teach their students the song in the book that went with the lesson they were teaching.  Each time I complied and assisted them because I think it is important to integrate music in the classroom in that way.  However, there were other times when I would ask teachers for their assistance with the music classroom.  There were events throughout the year that students would attend where they needed to sing along and participate.  I prepared them in my classroom, but with only one lesson each week, I felt that they needed more practice in their classroom.  I asked teachers if they would help; some teachers complied, and some simply said that this was "not their area of expertise" and they did not feel comfortable.  My general response to this was to attempt to make time to visit their classroom during the week so that those students got the practice they needed to be prepared.
3. I'm Not Creative- This sad phrase came from many students I encountered in the music classroom.  It breaks my heart to see children with low self esteem putting a damper on their own creativity.  I provided opportunities in music class for students to explore music and then present them in a creative way.  A project that I assigned my fifth graders was for them to think of their favorite musical thing (style, song, artist, instrument, etc) and present this to the class.  Students were allowed to work individually or in groups; they were allowed to use recorded music, sing, dance, or discuss their favorite music when presenting to the class.  The most challenging part of this project for some students was coming up with an idea and a way to present it to the class.  It actually took some students two class periods and lots of encouragement to plan their creative project.  My response to the students who continued to say "I'm not creative" was to fish for ideas with them and encourage them while still allowing the ideas to be their own.  This was a challenge for me as a teacher, but in the end was worth it when students were proud of their hard work.
4. Play is Frivolous- Some adults' perceive music to be a non-essential class.  They view it is an extra play time for their child and some even consider it as a class that takes away time from the necessary subjects of reading and math.  I encountered these parents that questioned why their child even needed to be in my classroom once each week.  My response to these parents was a calm, collected statement about how music promotes fluency in reading, how mathematical fractions are presented when we learn note values, and how the subject enhances and enriches the child's educational experience.  However, I do believe there is more to it than just that which meets the eye.  Children need many avenues to express themselves and anytime they are given opportunities such as a music class to be creative, this time should be protected and valued.  I have seen students who struggle in math and reading classes, but enjoy themselves during music class.  They feel successful and this opens the door for them to be creative.  
5. Follow the Rules- I myself am a rule follower most of the time and find it difficult to go outside the boundaries to be creative.  However, in a few instances I have had ideas that did not lie exactly within the rules.  Last year I developed a recorder ensemble class especially for a studious group of students in a fourth grade class.  The behavior of one fourth grade class was so out of hand that after one unit of recorders I felt that to regain some order I had to move on to different lessons for this class.  There was, however, a small group of students who were genuinely disappointed and wanted to continue with recorders.  So, one day each week after the regular music class, these students came to recorder ensemble; they ate lunch with me, then skipped recess to play recorders.  This arrangement certainly does not follow all of the rules but it allowed these students the time in music that they desired.