As quoted by Professor Paul Torrance in 1979:
“An immediate practical question is: ‘Can people reared in the American culture accept a concept of creativity that cannot be attained instantly – a kind of creativity that requires perseverance, diligence, time and hard work?’ The popular stereotype of the American is certainly one that emphasizes our search for shortcuts and instant success. In Japan we have found nothing that is more certain to produce instant, loud laughter than for my wife, Pansy, to bring out her little pocketbook entitled “Easy Japanese.”
Actually, this is not really new emphasis for me or others who have done honest research in creativity. A definition of creativity that was given me in 1964 by Karl Anderson, a student of mine at the University of California at Berkeley, includes several elements having that emphasis. Here are a few examples that I have used frequently in my own teaching and work:
- Creativity is digging deeper.
- Creativity is looking twice.
- Creativity is crossing out mistakes.
- Creativity is listening/talking to a cat.
- Creativity is getting in deep water.
- Creativity is getting out behind locked doors.
- Creativity is plugging in the sun.
- Creativity is wanting to know.
- Creativity is having a ball.
- Creativity is building sand castles.
- Creativity is singing in your own key.
- Creativity is shaking hands with the future.’”
Well, on 1 September 2015, the above words are perhaps even more critically important to our future in South Africa.
These words hold the answers to a just and fair society; a country where we can live an example to the world; as we should in the cradle of mankind. Sadly, this gift each of us is born with is trampled upon by society; parents, schools, formalized religion, government and the corporate environment. Is this not a call for joining hands to put a stop to this; an immediate, decisive and forceful stop? I am so, so privileged to know so…
