Activity 5 Where is Creativity?
Closely read Chapter Two, “Where Is Creativity?” from Csikszentmihalyi’s book Creativity.

Again, mark in your book as you read and make use of the chapter’s notes, beginning on page 406. In this chapter, the author lays out his Systems View of creativity. Inspired by General Systems Theory, which has had an important impact upon multiple disciplines, he addresses the question “where?” (not “what?” as you might expect) is creativity?

After you’ve read and thought about the chapter, click on the “Activity 5 Where is Creativity” link. Within this topic, click “Create Thread.” Enter an appropriate subject line and in one detailed post, respond to the following questions that apply concepts from your reading to your own situation:

1. Describe the domain in which you hope to work after you graduate from UNI. Concisely summarize the domain’s major rules, procedures, and structure.

2. Describe the field: in this domain, who sets the standards of quality and decides what is a worthy creative contribution to the domain?

3. Our world has changed since Csikszentmihalyi developed his Systems Theory explanation for how creative contributions work their way into a domain and into the culture. This is especially true in the domain of pop entertainment, where the gatekeeping role that was once performed by talent agents and record producers is now, in some cases, performed by the general public. For example, a few years ago, Justin Bieber grabbed a microphone and a videocamera to tape himself signing in his bedroom. He posted it on YouTube and, within weeks, he was a sensation. Psy used a similar path to fame. (Of course, we could argue over whether the Biebs or PSY are, in fact, Big C Creative. At a minimum, though, they have made a cultural impact.)

Due to social media, there has been a democratization in the process some people have taken to influence culture. Can you think of other examples of persons who have become sensations by doing an end-run around the traditional gatekeepers? Is this a good thing? I’m very interested in your thinking about this, so take this activity where you like.

If you’d like, as a supplement to, not a replacement for, the chapter “Where is Creativity?”, you might want to take a look at the lecture “The Creative Person and the Creative Context” that Csikszentmihalyi gave a UNI a few years ago. Watching this is entirely optional. You can certainly comment on this YouTube talk in your post for this activity. In this presentation, he also gets into some of the material you’ll be reading for Activity 6, the chapter “The Creative Personality.”

Go to www.uni.edu/clrc. Click on the red “Events” box. Scroll down to the video labeled “The Creative Person and the Creative Context.”

Activity 6 The Creative Personality
Closely read Chapter Three, “The Creative Personality,” from Csikszentmihalyi’s book Creativity.

In Chapter 3, Csikszentmihalyi argues that landmark works of creativity don’t emerge from a single “creative genius” working alone, but rather from individuals interacting in complex systems, namely within a domains and a field. At the same time, he has identified some traits common to people who have created Big C (culturally significant and lasting) creative works. These traits are described in the chapter as he introduces his theory of psychological complexity.

Csikszentmihalyi defines a complex personality as one that is both highly differentiated and well integrated. In this chapter, he reports that many of the Nobel-prize winners he talked to in his study are psychologically complex (i.e., both differentiated and integrated). He provides many examples of how each person embodies contrasting personality traits that are not typically found within the same individual.

After you have read and thought about the chapter, click on the “Activity 6 The Creative Personality” link. Within this topic, click “Create Thread.” Enter the subject line of your choice. It should be something that calls attention to the topic(s) you will be writing about in your detailed post. Your post will consider both the idea of the complex system and the complex personality. Please include parts 1 and 2 in your post.

Part 1. Begin with a summary of the idea of psychological complexity in your own words. How does having a personality consisting of opposite traits position someone to be more creative? Include an example of someone you consider psychologically complex, maybe even yourself. Does this complexity help you or them to be more creative?

Part 2. This activity will help you visualize and learn more about Csikszentmihalyi’s use of the European Renaissance (p. 32-36) as an illustration of his argument that “the greatest spur to [Big C creativity] may come from changes outside the individual” (p. 31).

Watch the following four YouTube videos:

The Renaissance: An Introduction

Achievements of Leonardo da Vinci

Da Vinci Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ur3Jd2AWBG0

Da Vinci Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=cCKarF9iEng

After you’ve watched and thought about the videos, explain how da Vinci’s achievements are an example of the three-part system Csikszentmihalyi is talking about (individual—domain—field) and summarize what you’ve learned so far about the creative personality of da Vinci. What traits did he appear to possess that would support Csikszentmihalyi’s analysis of the psychological complexity of creative achievers?

Note: Although you’re not required to watch additional parts of the 10-part History Channel documentary, all of them are available on YouTube and may help you answer this question.

NOTE: the sources will be what is required for activity 5,6 ONLY and you do not have to site them
also for each activity i need at least 5-6 paragraphs with 8-9 sentences

Activity 5 Where is Creativity?
Closely read Chapter Two, “Where Is Creativity?” from Csikszentmihalyi’s book Creativity.

Again, mark in your book as you read and make use of the chapter’s notes, beginning on page 406. In this chapter, the author lays out his Systems View of creativity. Inspired by General Systems Theory, which has had an important impact upon multiple disciplines, he addresses the question “where?” (not “what?” as you might expect) is creativity?

After you’ve read and thought about the chapter, click on the “Activity 5 Where is Creativity” link. Within this topic, click “Create Thread.” Enter an appropriate subject line and in one detailed post, respond to the following questions that apply concepts from your reading to your own situation:

1. Describe the domain in which you hope to work after you graduate from UNI. Concisely summarize the domain’s major rules, procedures, and structure.

2. Describe the field: in this domain, who sets the standards of quality and decides what is a worthy creative contribution to the domain?

3. Our world has changed since Csikszentmihalyi developed his Systems Theory explanation for how creative contributions work their way into a domain and into the culture. This is especially true in the domain of pop entertainment, where the gatekeeping role that was once performed by talent agents and record producers is now, in some cases, performed by the general public. For example, a few years ago, Justin Bieber grabbed a microphone and a videocamera to tape himself signing in his bedroom. He posted it on YouTube and, within weeks, he was a sensation. Psy used a similar path to fame. (Of course, we could argue over whether the Biebs or PSY are, in fact, Big C Creative. At a minimum, though, they have made a cultural impact.)

Due to social media, there has been a democratization in the process some people have taken to influence culture. Can you think of other examples of persons who have become sensations by doing an end-run around the traditional gatekeepers? Is this a good thing? I’m very interested in your thinking about this, so take this activity where you like.

If you’d like, as a supplement to, not a replacement for, the chapter “Where is Creativity?”, you might want to take a look at the lecture “The Creative Person and the Creative Context” that Csikszentmihalyi gave a UNI a few years ago. Watching this is entirely optional. You can certainly comment on this YouTube talk in your post for this activity. In this presentation, he also gets into some of the material you’ll be reading for Activity 6, the chapter “The Creative Personality.”

Go to www.uni.edu/clrc. Click on the red “Events” box. Scroll down to the video labeled “The Creative Person and the Creative Context.”

Activity 6 The Creative Personality
Closely read Chapter Three, “The Creative Personality,” from Csikszentmihalyi’s book Creativity.

In Chapter 3, Csikszentmihalyi argues that landmark works of creativity don’t emerge from a single “creative genius” working alone, but rather from individuals interacting in complex systems, namely within a domains and a field. At the same time, he has identified some traits common to people who have created Big C (culturally significant and lasting) creative works. These traits are described in the chapter as he introduces his theory of psychological complexity.

Csikszentmihalyi defines a complex personality as one that is both highly differentiated and well integrated. In this chapter, he reports that many of the Nobel-prize winners he talked to in his study are psychologically complex (i.e., both differentiated and integrated). He provides many examples of how each person embodies contrasting personality traits that are not typically found within the same individual.

After you have read and thought about the chapter, click on the “Activity 6 The Creative Personality” link. Within this topic, click “Create Thread.” Enter the subject line of your choice. It should be something that calls attention to the topic(s) you will be writing about in your detailed post. Your post will consider both the idea of the complex system and the complex personality. Please include parts 1 and 2 in your post.

Part 1. Begin with a summary of the idea of psychological complexity in your own words. How does having a personality consisting of opposite traits position someone to be more creative? Include an example of someone you consider psychologically complex, maybe even yourself. Does this complexity help you or them to be more creative?

Part 2. This activity will help you visualize and learn more about Csikszentmihalyi’s use of the European Renaissance (p. 32-36) as an illustration of his argument that “the greatest spur to [Big C creativity] may come from changes outside the individual” (p. 31).

Watch the following four YouTube videos:

The Renaissance: An Introduction

Achievements of Leonardo da Vinci

Da Vinci Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ur3Jd2AWBG0

Da Vinci Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=cCKarF9iEng

After you’ve watched and thought about the videos, explain how da Vinci’s achievements are an example of the three-part system Csikszentmihalyi is talking about (individual—domain—field) and summarize what you’ve learned so far about the creative personality of da Vinci. What traits did he appear to possess that would support Csikszentmihalyi’s analysis of the psychological complexity of creative achievers?

Note: Although you’re not required to watch additional parts of the 10-part History Channel documentary, all of them are available on YouTube and may help you answer this question.

NOTE: the sources will be what is required for activity 5,6 ONLY and you do not have to site them
also for each activity i need at least 5-6 paragraphs with 8-9 sentences