For this project, you will demonstrate an understanding of the theories about creativity in a creative manner. The product could reflect one individual’s theory (e.g., Sternberg), a class of theories (e.g.,

humanistic theories), or a larger classification of various types of theories.

Theories in a Creative Way

Jen Flo 10/5/18Mod 3/4 EDG 553

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi developed a system model for creativity that shifted the question to “where is creativity?” versus “what is creativity?” Csikszentmihalyi viewed creativity as the interaction between the person, product, and environment (Starko, 2018).

Csikszentmihalyi believed that a person must understand the discipline of knowledge related to a particular domain. Not operating alone, creative endeavors were also influenced by the other practitioners, professionals, and participants in that field. Starko (2018) provides this example: “to be perceived as creative, the playwright must strike a balance with the order of the field. If the play is too similar to past standards, it will be considered mundane; if it is too different, it will not be considered art. If the variation is accepted, it becomes part of the domain to be transmitted by the filed to novices (p. 77).”

“For creativity to occur, a set of rules and practices must be transmitted from the domain to the individual. The individual must then produce a novel variation in the content of the domain. The variation then must be selected by the field for inclusion in the domain (Csikzentmihalyi, 1999, p.315).”

Please see next slide to view the explanation of the model

components.

A family tree represents the biology and environmental experiences that the individual brings to their expressions.

The ring of figures represents field of people that participate or interact within a particular domain.

This graphic represents the various parts of culture and society that influence the importance and value of the creative endeavor.

This minifigurerepresents the intersection of a novel and useful idea that is valued in the social context to which it is presented.

Clear blue LEGOS are a metaphor for the “flow” that one can experience wheninnovating anidea within adomain.

Resources:

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1999). Implications of a systems perspective for the study of creativity. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Handbook of creativity (pp. 313-335). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Starko, A. J. (2018). Creativity in the classroom: Schoold of curious delight. (6th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.