Senior Capstone ℅ 2018

4/12/18

The Importance of Creativity Today: An Autoethnography

Ricardo A. Bourdet
Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS, rpesquera100749@laleadership.org
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Senior Capstone ℅ 2018

The Importance of Creativity Today: An Autoethnography

Abstract:
In this paper interviews, conference, and statistics are analyzed to accentuate the effects of
creativity. This paper will explore the importance of creativity in different parts of society. Some
questions that were inquired were where does creativity impact the most, do schools kill
creativity, and what makes creativity important? Ken Robinson’s TED talk “Do schools kill
creativity”, ​a study by IBM titled “IBM 2010 Global CEO Study: Creativity Selected as Most
Crucial Factor for Future Success”, and online articles were used to gather information on the
topic of creativity.​ From examining educators standpoints on creativity, skills valued by CEO’s
in the workforce, and statistics regarding creativity levels in different age groups, it is clear that
creativity is a characteristic that is increasingly needed yet is not regarded as such within schools.
Creativity is a valuable asset that should be fought for a more equal place to academic subjects in
schools.

Keywords:​ ​Creativity​, ​workforce, schools

Acknowledgements: ​I would like to thank the people who had made the research to make this
paper possible but more importantly my friends and family who have supported me throughout
high school to this point.
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The Importance of Creativity Today

Ricardo A. Bourdet

Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS, Los Angeles, California, USA

In this paper interviews, conference, and statistics are analyzed to accentuate the
effects of creativity. This paper will explore the importance of creativity in
different parts of society. Some questions that were inquired were where does
creativity impact the most, do schools kill creativity, and what makes creativity
important. Ken Robinson’s TED talk “Do schools kill creativity” a study by IBM
titled “IBM 2010 Global CEO Study: Creativity Selected as Most Crucial Factor
for Future Success” and online articles were used to gather information on the
topic of creativity. From examining educators standpoints on creativity, skills
valued by CEO’s in the workforce, and statistics regarding creativity levels in
different age groups, it is clear that creativity is a characteristic that is
increasingly needed yet is not regarded as such within schools. Creativity is a
valuable asset that should be fought for a more equal place to academic subjects
in schools.

The Incident

It was a bright sunny morning in the art room, we were starting a new unit learning about

Color Theory. We started learning about the color wheel and as our teacher was introducing us to

the topic she gave us our first assignment. We were to create our own color wheel using the 12

colors she assigned and we were allowed to decorate our wheel however we wanted. This made

me suddenly spring from my seat, finally something that sounded interesting and not like another

boring assignment she gave us that felt more like a chore rather than a project. My immediate

thought was that this was going to be a fun, small, creative project that I could allow a lot of fun
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with deciding what to decorate the 12 colors with. Then suddenly as I thought all these great

ideas all at once, I felt nothing. I just sat there on my seat on the table in the corner of the

classroom wedged between the front door and the door to the eating area. My mind was a

complete blank, instead of being filled with all these ideas my mind was a black hole, completely

void of all ideas.

At first I thought maybe I am trying to think of too many ideas and my mind just can’t

process all those thoughts at once so I decided to try and focus on one single thought. And

then… nothing. I just sat there, smelling the acrylic paint in the classroom, she had used the

previous day for her advanced placement art class. Our art teacher disapproved of using lead

pencils for art. I could feel the hard wood of the pencil in my hand that was sitting motionless on

the paper in front of me. The room was cold, the hair on my skin rose to absorb as much heat as

possible. I realised then that I had more thoughts about the room and what I was doing there,

instead of thinking of a simple creative concept for my color wheel. I now find the irony, of not

being able to think of a design in a class that is supposed to stimulate creativity, hilarious. I

looked around the classroom, hoping for some inspiration. Everyone else’s hands moved

furiously, trying to get their designs perfect on their paper canvas in front of them. To little

success I was unable to gather any inspiration due to the fact that I did not know what the

designs were about or if I did, it was about a topic that was not interesting to me. Eventually I

had decided on designing my color wheel using the 12 keys of the zodiac from a show called

Fairy Tail ​that I am a great fan of. Although, I had found my design I started to think about how

it was still a bit unoriginal using a design created by someone else. I had realized that I was

starting to lose my creativity in school.

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Something I noticed was that a small child would have easily chosen how to decorate

their own color wheel; perhaps choosing something simplistic yet creative like a firetruck for the

color red and a police car for the color blue. It was clear to me that any younger person would

likely have no problem picking a theme for their decoration, in fact they may as well have the

complete opposite problem and have too many ideas to choose from. Schools lecture the

creativity out of students; ironically teaching the same materials to millions of children and

therefore making the academic area a highly competitive one instead of stimulating a high valued

skill.

Analysis

Introduction

Younger generations are always being told that they are the ones who are going to change

the world with their creative minds yet are told to focus on the same academic subjects taught to

previous generations. In Robinson’s view, ​“We run our companies like this... And the result is

that we are educating people out of their creative capacities” (Robinson, 2006). ​In their study,

“IBM 2010 Global CEO Study: Creativity Selected as Most Crucial Factor for Future Success”,

IBM maintains that “​According to a major new IBM (NYSE: ​IBM​) survey of more than 1,500

Chief Executive Officers from 60 countries and 33 industries worldwide, chief executives

believe that -- more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision -- successfully

navigating an increasing complex world will require creativity” (IBM, para 1, 2010). Yet

schools, which are meant to prepare us for when we eventually have to work, neglect to observe

the fact that creativeness is a highly valued skill, ​“A survey by IBM of more than 1,500 chief

executive officers shows consensus: Creativity was ranked as the number one factor for future
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business success—above management discipline, integrity, and even vision” (Landry, para 10,

2017).

Creativity is important, especially within a place like the U.S, where creativity accounts

for much of the workforce, in “America’s Looming Creativity Crisis” by Richard Florida,

Florida’s point is that, ​“Today, the creative sector of the U.S economy, broadly defined, employs

more than 30% of the workforce (more than all of manufacturing) and accounts for nearly half of

all wage and salary income (some $2 trillion)—almost as much as the manufacturing and service

sectors together. Indeed, the United States has now entered what I call the ‘Creative Age’”

(Florida, para 6, 2004). Lauren Landry believes that in today’s world many problems such as

world hunger and poverty face the world in which only creativity can solve, “The only thing

companies can’t do is ignore creativity altogether. . . Creativity needs to be prioritized—and for

good reason” (Landry, Para 27, 2017).

Study of Focus

The focus of this study explores data that illustrates how creativity is regarded in different

areas such as schools, the workplace, or in different age groups. Research, interviews, and

statistics conducted on the topic of creativity are analyzed to emphasize the importance of

creativity for everyone especially in the work field and leadership positions. From examining

educators standpoints on creativity, skills valued by CEO’s in the workforce, and statistics

regarding creativity levels in different age groups; it is clear that creativity is a characteristic that

is increasingly needed yet is not regarded as such within schools.

With the world changing constantly more problems will arise that some people may not

be equipped to handle. IBM reports that the CEO’s interviewed explain that the business
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environment is increasingly difficult, ​8 out of 10 CEOs expect their environment to grow even

more complex while almost half believe they are ready to deal with it (IBM, para 6, 2010). The

human race has always tried to find explanations for everything due to the fear of the unknown

however these philosophies may be what holds the human race back, Gopnik and Griffiths

advocate that, “what computer scientists call exploration and exploitation. When we face a new

problem, we adults usually exploit the knowledge about the world we have acquired so far. We

try to quickly find a pretty good solution that is close to the solutions we already have. On the

other hand, exploration — trying something new — may lead us to a more unusual idea, a less

obvious solution, a new piece of knowledge” (Gopnik and Griffiths, para 11, 2017). Without

creativity we as the human race lose more and more creative thinkers in the world.

Claim #1: ​Creativity is a skill that is seen as irrelevant in schools to teach.

In Robinson’s view, inside schools the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math)

fields are seen as more important rather than equal to the arts, “Every education system on Earth

has the same hierarchy of subjects. Every one. Doesn't matter where you go. You'd think it

would be otherwise, but it isn't. At the top are mathematics and languages, ​then the humanities,

and at the bottom are the arts​” (Robinson, 2006). Gopnik and Griffiths believe that at some point

in our life we as growing humans stop exploring for creative answers and start exploiting the

factual answers we have been taught,​ ​“Childhood and adolescence may, at least in part, be

designed to resolve the tension between exploration and exploitation. Those periods of our life

give us time to explore before we have to face the stern and earnest realities of grown-up life”

(Gopnik and Griffiths, para 13, 2017). However if we are not equipped to deal with this time of

our life then we do nothing but exploit the knowledge we have and become close minded to new
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ideas. Creativity is a crucial part to helping solve world problems such as world hunger, ​“Robyn

Ewing, a professor of teacher education and the arts at the University of Sydney… I am saying

that creativity, problem solving and developing our imagination is just as important and it needs

to happen alongside if we expect kids to solve the problems of the 21st century” (Barrett,

paragraph 7/9, 2015). Even after creativity has been regarded as a valuable characteristic some

schools still don’t see it as such Barrett reports that, “Creative and critical thinking is mandated

across the national school curriculum but the review by Professor Kenneth Wiltshire and Dr

Kevin Donnelly recommended less of an emphasis on it in all subjects” (Barrett, para 22, 2015).

With all these facts one would believe that schools would help children hone their creative skills

however they do not and instead focus on the basic curriculum.

Claim #2: ​Studies show that CEO’s value creativity in the workplace.

Creativity is most obvious in forms such as advertising which is a huge part of America’s

consumerist society, Landry moreover states that,​ ​“Eighty-two percent of executives surveyed by

Forrester agree: Companies benefit from creativity. Among those benefits include increased

revenue and greater market share. It’s why 58 percent of respondents said they set goals around

creative outcomes, and why another 48 percent claim to fund new ideas spun out of creative

brainstorming” (Landry, para 6, 2017). In the highly competitive economy creative leaders give

an edge to companies that is needed to stay competitive, IBM observe that “Top performing

organizations are 54 percent more likely than others to make rapid decisions. CEOs indicated

they are learning to respond swiftly with new ideas to address the deep changes affecting their

organizations” (IBM, para 10, 2010).

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Creativity is a valuable leadership quality to possess as leaders face many problems that

can’t be solved with facts. Most scholars in the field believe that, “If China is to fulfill its global

aspirations, it will need a new generation of leaders with creativity, vision and international

management experience. Many of the country’s CEOs recognize this; 61 percent believe “global

thinking” is a top leadership quality” (IBM, para 15, 2010). Creativity plays a major role in many

areas, most noticeably, the workforce, Florida complicates things further when he writes, ​“A

close look at international statistics shows that the creative class represents a larger percentage of

the workforce in many other countries than it does in the United States” (Florida, para 11, 2004).

Creativity also helps give an extra edge that can open many opportunities to people; the

essence of Landry’s argument is that, ​“Organization’s today operate in a highly competitive,

global environment, making creativity crucial. Creativity is what fuels big ideas, challenges

employees’ way of thinking, and opens the door to new business opportunities” (Landry, para 8,

2017). ​If the U.S had more creative adults then they would be an even more competitive

economy to be dealt with,​ according to Florida, ​the United States came in with about a quarter of

jobs being creative jobs, ranking 11th place worldwide. However since America is so huge even

at 11th place the 23.6% creative jobs translates to around 30 million people (Florida, para 12,

2004).

Since every job is in some way connected to business, either directly or indirectly one

would believe that mathematical or analytical skill would be the best skill to have however. As

people with very high positions in work it is important to pay attention when over 1,000 CEOs

claim creativity to be the best skill in the workforce.

Claim #3: ​Data shows creativity levels decrease as people age.

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Creativity is an important aspect for children to explore at a young age. Barrett firmly believes

that, “If they're not creative and they don't feel happy to take risks and have a go and fail with the

idea that then they can go on to more, then they are not going to cope with the things that are

going to be thrown at them" (Barrett, para. 12, 2015). Entrepreneurs are some of the biggest risk

takers out there as they put a lot of faith in themselves and their creativity to succeed.​ ​The huge

decline in creativity as we grow older leads to less creative thinkers in the world, according to

the a result of a study:

When it came to explaining the physical machine, the pattern was straightforward.

The preschoolers were most likely to come up with the creative, unusual

explanation. The school-age children were somewhat less creative. And there was

a dramatic drop at adolescence. Both the teenagers and the adults were the most

likely to stick with the obvious explanation even when it didn’t fit the data.

(Gopnik and Griffiths, para. 8, 2017)

Creativity is a great skill adolescents are able to utilize in the real world to make change

in the world, Gopnik and Griffiths elaborate the fact that there was a difference when it came to

social problems, teenagers were the most creative group among the 4 age groups with

preschoolers being second most creative. (Gopnik and Griffiths, para 9, 2017). ​Opinion

Creativity is a skill that should be stimulated in schools through creative classes and

should be viewed as important as the other academic subjects being taught. Creativity not only

helps students learn and explore talents that they have but also lets them stimulate their

creativeness that will prove useful in the future. By the time creativity becomes a necessary skill

it is already too late for most people.

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Creative thinking could be the key factor missing to find solutions long sought after.

Creativeness could help find the cure for the common cold, for cancer, and for many other

things. Creativeness could also solve some of the mysteries of the world and help explore parts

yet to be explored. Creativity has the ability to do so much and is a skill that most if not everyone

can obtain. However without the right environment to foster children to hone this skill creativity

becomes limited in its power to create change. This is where schools should come in and take the

place of being a haven where children can explore their creative minds rather than have their

heads filled with nothing but the same curriculum that kids in similar schools are taught which

offer no unique quality when applying for jobs or becoming entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Creativity is a precious tool that humans should learn to utilize more, Robinson celebrates

the fact that,

What TED celebrates is the gift of the human imagination. We have to be careful

now that we use this gift wisely and that we avert some of the scenarios that we've

talked about. And the only way we'll do it is by seeing our creative capacities for

the richness they are and seeing our children for the hope that they are. And our

task is to educate their whole being,so they can face this future. By the way -- we

may not see this future, but they will. And our job is to help them make something

of it. (Robinson, 2006)

As there are many problems in the world that cannot be solved with simple facts creativity will

play a key role in the problem solving process and Barrett is warning that, ​"I think we're leaving

an interesting legacy in the world and the kids are going to have to solve huge problems, be it to
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do with the climate [or] with the world food crisis… whatever it is, kids are going to have to

solve those problems ... that's where creativity comes in. They need to be able to draw on all

their knowledge then mix it, mash it up and create a solution” (Barrett, para 14, 2015). Children

are the future of the world and creativity is going to be a powerful weapon they will need to

solve the problems of the world. In order to see our children and the world we live in thrive and

prosper more focus needs to be brought onto creativity, starting in schools which are a place

meant to let students hone their skills.

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Reference

Barrett, R. (2015). “Educators argue creativity just as important as literacy and

numeracy”. ​ABC.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-02/students-solve-problems-with-creativity/599750.

Florida, R. (2004). “America's Looming Creativity Crisis”. ​Harvard Business Review.

https://hbr.org/2004/10/americas-looming-creativity-crisis.

Gopnik, A., & Griffiths, T. (2017). “What Happens to Creativity as We Age?” ​New York Times.

https://www.nytimes​.com/2017/08/19/opinion/sunday/what-happens-to-creativity-as-we

age.html.

IBM. (2010). “IBM 2010 Global CEO Study: Creativity Selected as Most Crucial Factor for

Future Success”. ​IBM​. https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/31670.wss.

Landry, L. (2017). “The Importance of Creativity in Business”. ​Northeastern University

Graduate Programs.

https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/creativity-importance-in-business/.

Robinson, K. (2006).​ Sir Ken Robinson--Do Schools Kill Creativity?.​ TedTalks.

https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.