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Uncreativity : the shadow side of creativity
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Bilton, Chris (2015) Uncreativity : the shadow side of creativity. International Journal of Cultural Policy, Volume 21 (Number 2). pp. 153-167. doi:10.1080/10286632.2014.892933 ISSN 1028-6632.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2014.892933
Abstract
This paper argues that our fascination with creativity is distracting and potentially destructive, resulting in a tendency to discard projects and people before they achieve their potential. ‘Uncreativity’ is used to recognise the importance of continuity over change, the contribution of intermediaries and administrators to creative processes and the possibility of reconfiguring and refining existing ideas rather than inventing new ones. The paper argues that the ‘discourse’ of creativity prioritises novelty over value. This leads to an unsustainable emphasis on new ideas and initiatives in organisations. For individuals, it encourages an overemphasis on individual talent and relentless self-belief. This partial understanding of creative processes results in unrealistic expectations and self-destructive and self-exploiting behaviours. Uncreativity is proposed as a necessary element in creative processes for both organisations and individuals. Cultural policy and cultural management need to acknowledge the important contribution of these uncreative elements as well as simply endorsing ‘creativity’.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
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Subjects: | C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CB History of civilization | ||||||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Arts > Theatre, Performance and Cultural Policy Studies > Centre for Cultural Policy Studies | ||||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Cultural policy, Creative ability | ||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | International Journal of Cultural Policy | ||||||||
Publisher: | Routledge | ||||||||
ISSN: | 1028-6632 | ||||||||
Official Date: | 6 March 2015 | ||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Volume 21 | ||||||||
Number: | Number 2 | ||||||||
Number of Pages: | 15 | ||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 153-167 | ||||||||
DOI: | 10.1080/10286632.2014.892933 | ||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 26 December 2015 | ||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 26 December 2015 |
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