Posts by spotlightAdmin
Functional, Quality, and Possible Needs
This paper proposes a model of three needs for theatre and other creative arts. The first level, functional needs, is necessary for basic existence. For theatre, that would entail such components as a physical space and players. The second level, quality needs, is comprised of the skills and abilities of the people and materials; it…
Read MoreCreativity, Theatre, and Meaning
Creativity – particularly creativity in the arts – can serve as a source of meaning in one’s life. In this chapter, we will explore and apply this concept to the performing arts. The connection between creativity and meaning can take multiple forms. For example, recent conceptions of meaning include three components: coherence, purpose, and significance…
Read MoreFlow
Look at the absolute joy that Rum Tum Tugger is feeling right now as he is singing (and dancing) in the rain. He is experiencing the pleasure that comes from being creative. The late, great creativity scholar Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called these moments “Flow.” We experience flow when we are so absorbed in what we are…
Read MoreOpenness
What do mean when we talk about the creative personality? There are many different nuances, but the most important is the idea of openness. Being open can mean being open to new experiences – wanting to try new foods, visit new places, experience new cultures, and take sensible risks. It can also mean being open…
Read MoreOriginality
Is Elphaba singing “The Sound of Music”? Or is Maria von Trapp planning to defy gravity? One of the biggest elements of being creative is to be original. Something is original when it is different and new – although not, usually, off-the-wall or nonsensical. Think about what might happen if you asked many different people…
Read More