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Dear All, I've been a member of this list for a while, and have a question about the creative process which might be of interest. Many of us believe that creative works are generated by the artist in a flash of insight, a special moment when the work appears in the mind fully formed. Then, all the artist has to do is execute this vision, using the techniques of his or her medium. But is this really how creativity works? There have been many in-depth studies of the creative process in recent decades. These studies have used methods of biography, of history, and of empirical observation. All of these studies show that this "flash of insight" view is false. Artists start working without a fully-formed vision or plan for the final work; the work changes dramatically, often more than once, during the work; and what we see at the end is something that has emerged from the process of working with the medium, a process that has many drafts along the way. Artists generate works over long periods of time, with many smaller "mini insights" occurring to them along the way. The best way to understand this process is to examine closely snapshots of the work as it unfolds: by looking at drafts. To educate the general public and students about creativity, my colleagues and I are planning a new online exhibit about drafts. We may lose ourselves in a gripping novel, get goose bumps from an historical speech, or become mesmerized by a brilliantly composed symphony, but most people give little thought to the creative process that fuels great and lesser-known works in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Initial drafts and subsequent versions of any work are where vision and skill combine to form the creative process, yet even those in the academic, art, music, or literary arenas rarely address the iterative process that shapes final pieces. Exhibiting, interpreting, and evaluating the changes creators make between drafts pulls back the curtain on the creative process, and provides a sense of context, discovery, and invention for students, educators, and the general public. For our exhibit, topics are still taking form, and will include: Governance: Political Speeches, Legislation, and Constitutions The Arts: Visual Arts, Music, and Literature The Physical World: Science, Mathematics, Technology, and Cartography Other: Business Models, Military Conflict, and Architecture * What do you think about iterative vs. a flash of insight? * Do any particular ideas or case studies come to mind which are illustrative for the public? (e.g., Gettysburg address, Beethoven's ninth symphony, etc.). * We are also looking for additional advisors on this project, with expertise on various topics, please let me know if any possible advisors leap to mind. Thanks, Michael -------------------------------------------------- Michael Douma Executive Director Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement http://www.idea.org/ http://www.webexhibits.org/ [log in to unmask] --------------------------------------------------