Lesson 2   NOVELTY, CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND INVETION

The creative person is one who generates new ideas while the creative process is how these new ideas, solutions, and inventions are produced.

AMBIGUITY OF CREATIVITY

"Being creative is seeing the same thing as everybody else but thinking of something different"  (Shekerjian, D.1990). 

One of the many definitions of the word creativity. The definite definition of the word creativity has long been an argument among many scholar and researchers. (Amabile, 1996. P 19)

Creativity is the process of generating something new that has value. There are many new ideas and concepts, but some may not have value and hence may not be considered creative. A creation is something original that has value. (Haggins, 1995, p. 3)

Creativity does not happen inside people’s heads, but in the interaction between a person’s thoughts and a sociocultural context. It is a systemic rather than individual phenomenon.  (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996, p.23)

Creativity involves the translation of our unique gifts, talents and vision into an external reality that is new and useful. It is important to be aware that creativity takes place unavoidably inside our own personal, social, and cultural boundaries. To understand creativity is not just to study the individuals but also social mechanisms that stimulated their idea and social network that recognized and spread their innovation.

As being mentioned before there are many aspects to creativity and one definition would include the ability to take existing objects and combines them in different ways for new purposes.

Innovation by definition is to bring in new ideas or make changes. (Oxford Dictionary) Definition from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, innovation is the act of introducing something new. Ned Herrmann the founder of Herrmann International which deal with creative thinking in the corporation and the founder of Whole Brain Technology described, Creativity and Innovation are often used interchangeably but they are very different parts of the same process.

In other words, innovation is the process of turning ideas into practical reality. (Herrmann, 1999)

Explained by Stenrberg, 

            Beyond intelligence, there must also be wisdom because intelligence alone is not sufficient Wisdom is considered by Sternberg to be the balance between creativity and intelligence relegating the novel ideas according to their appropriateness. It may be easy enough to generate novel ideas, but wisdom will distinguish the reasonable from the unreasonable. A creative and intelligent person may produce a novel idea, but without wisdom, the novel idea may be “foolish” or inappropriate  (Dickhut. J E)

According to Dr. Edward de Bono, the leading authority in the field of creative thinking. the human mind can be regarded as an insoluble mystery (de Bono). In his series of book on Lateral thinking, Dr de Bono, build up a picture of a 'special memory-surface' which resemble the mechanism of brain in selecting, processing and rejecting of information. He illustrates the mind's tendency to create and combine rigid patterns, to build myths, to polarize and divide, and then relates these mechanisms to the various modes of thinking such as natural, logical, mathematical, and lateral. (De Bono) As said by de Bono creativity is not 'natural' to human brain therefore a thinking skill needs to be develop in order to becomes creative. Nothing is more important than human thinking or thinking creatively. Thinking can be taught across all cultures, ages and abilities. It is not a matter of intelligence or of knowledge. "Creativity isn't magic. It's achievable!" (Leland,N. 1990)

Defining novelty

Novelty is the quality of being new. Although it may be said to have an objective dimension (e.g. a new style of art coming into being, such as abstract art or impressionism) it essentially exists in the subjective perceptions of individuals.

Subjective and Objective novelty

Subjective novelty is the apperception of something as being new by an individual person or a group of persons;

Objective novelty is something that is new for all humanity in its development through ages. It is unlikely, however, that even the most knowing and knowledgeable person boldly say that he knows everything that was before and take liberty to judge things from this standpoint.

The study of creativity that is based on the presumption of novelty aims to reveal the universal laws of its generation and to explain how original works are produced by using the old material and known procedures.

Originality is not a decisive feature of creative work and Novelty in creativity is always based on what has been created before.

Defining Innovation

Innovation is the process of making improvements by introducing something new, the realization of a creative idea in a social context.

Innovation is a process by which an idea or invention is translated into a good or service for which people will pay.

To be called an innovation, an idea must be replicable at an economical cost and must satisfy a specific need.

Innovation involves deliberate application of information, imagination, and initiative in deriving greater or different value from resources, and encompasses all processes by which new ideas are generated and converted into useful products.

In business, innovation results often from the application of a scientific or technical idea in decreasing the gap between the needs or expectations of the customers and the performance of a firm's products.

In a social context, innovation is equally important in devising new collaborative methods such as alliance creation, joint venturing, flexible working hours, and in creating buyers' purchasing power through methods such as hire purchase.

Innovations are divided into two broad categories:

(1)   Evolutionary innovations are brought about by numerous incremental advances in technology or processes and are of two types

(a)        Continuous evolutionary innovations result in an alteration in product characteristics instead of in a new product, and do not require any user-learning or changes in his or her routine, examples are multi-blade shaving razor, fluoride toothpaste, and laptop computer;

(b)        Dynamic continuous evolutionary innovations require some user-learning but do not disrupts his or her routine, examples are fax machines, instant photography, and held computers.

(2)  Revolutionary innovations (called also discontinuous innovations) requirea good deal of user-learning, often disrupt his or her routine, and may even require new behavior patterns.

           

Examples are photocopier (xerography) machines, personal computers, and internet.

Innovation is synonymous with risk-taking and firms which introduce revolutionary products or technologies take on the greatest risk because they have to create new markets.

There are four types of creativity. Creative people fall into these four categories:

1. Aesthetic Organizers.
2. Boundary Pushers — those who take an existing idea and push it a little further.
3. Inventors — those who take existing knowledge and create new ideas — the Edisons of this world.

The rarest group: Boundary Breakers — the Leonardos and the Copernicuses.

"The best way to predict your future is to create it!"

--  Abraham Lincoln

The new and the old are not two completely different entities but rather the two sides of a coin. The new is always based on what was before and the one appears through another like the water under the ice for those who can see.

           

Some exercise at Lesson 5

 

Lesson5 JUXTAPOSITION  

Juxtaposition can be defined as placing two variables, side by side and their contrast or similarities are shown through comparison.

By juxtaposing two objects or words next to each other, human brain will automatically associate or transfer meaning.

Definition: A placing or being placed in nearness or contiguity, or side by side; as a juxtaposition of words

Example:

    

Metaphor-   Is a figure of speech in which 2 different things are linked by some similarity.

Comparisons that are obvious are not considering metaphors. Therefore, metaphors occur, when 2

Different ideas are being connected in imaginative ways and agreed to be dissimilar at first.

                        - not using as / like

Example: Life is a box of chocolate,you will never know what you will get!

 (The Movie: “Forest Gum”)

                              

Similes -          Using as / like

Example: Life is like cooking.It all depends on what you add and how you mix it. Sometimes you follow the recipe and at other times, you’re creative.

                        Life is like a maze in which you try to avoid the exit.

( example taken from: Roger von Oech’s A Whack on the Side of the Head )

Analogy
Making the Strange Familiar

Analogies use something that has no apparent connection to the object to explain something about the object. The main use of analogies in daily conversation is to use something familiar to explain something complex.

            Example

                        “Dolby Stereo is like a Sonic Washing Machine for sound.”

What this means is that Dolby acts like a washing machine but instead of washing clothes it washes sound. It cleans the sound this giving it better quality, making it sharper and clearer.

                                    (Example taken from: Roger von Oech’s A Whack on the Side of the Head.)

Categories of Analogies

LOGICAL ANALOGIES

Logical analogies are analogies, which use similarities in the design, structure or function of to connect back to the subject. For example a duck can be compared to a hovercraft because of the fact that both of them can move on the surface of land and water. Another example is the comparison of the whale and a submarine, where both can dive to great depths but still need to surface for air.

(Sourced from: Nicholas Rourkes’ Art Synectics.)

                            

AFFECTIVE ANALOGIES

Affective analogies are the emotional resemblance. The clearest example is the use of an animal to explain a certain characteristic of a person. This type of analogy is used most frequently in conversation to emphasis certain points. For example, he is like a pig (because he is lazy), she is like an ant (because she is hard working), he is like an owl (because he is wise), etc. This type of analogies uses the intrinsic values of the object as a comparison.

JUXTAPOSITION 1

What is Juxtaposition?

n  Placing 2 variables side by side to compare & contrast their similarities & differences.

–        Popular approach in creative processes.

–        Juxtapose 2 objects/words à human brain automatically associates/transfers meaning.

–        Purpose: familiar à less familiar / less familiar à familiar

n  Definition:

n  The arrangement of two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases, or words side-by-side or, in similar narrative moments for the purpose of comparison, contrast, rhetorical effect, suspense, or character development.

n  Juxtaposition (literary): Synonymous with contrast, 2 objects or, texts that oppose one another.

n  Random juxtaposition: 2 random objects moving in parallel. A technique intended to stimulate creativity

Juxtaposition (literature & film)

•          Arrangement of 2 opposing ideas, characters, objects, etc. side-by-side or, in similar narratives for effect.

•          Purpose: to further develop the storyline or, characters.

•          Applied variously to opposing emotions, abstract concepts, character traits/values, or images.

Random Juxtaposition

n  Random juxtaposition, two random objects moving in parallel, a technique intended to stimulate creativity.

n  A technique of lateral thinking (to develop a new way of looking at things).

n  The stimulation of creativity in problem solving, design or other creative pursuit by confronting two unrelated concepts or objects.

n  Usually the goal or problem to be solved on the one hand and a randomly selected object or concept on the other.  

Po: Beyond Yes and No

n  The basic tool of the Creative System.

n  The basic primer of a revolutionary way of thinking. Edward de Bono maintains that most of us are trapped within the rigid confines of traditional thinking, limited by concepts which have developed simply for the purpose of arriving at the 'right' answer.

n  Po: a device for changing our ways of thinking: a method for approaching problems in a new & more creative way.

n  The basis of logical thinking is the word "no". By enabling you to reject what is wrong, it allows you to be right at each step.

n  Po: a new thinking tool - but with a completely different function. 

–        Step outside the harsh rigidity of the YES/NO system.

–        Change from the present thought pattern to creating new ideas.

Logical Mind map in practice; Mortar & Pestle

Information extracted from wikipedia.org/wiki/ on Mortar and pestle

A mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix substances. The pestle is a heavy bat shaped stick whose end is used for pounding and grinding, and the mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, marble, clay, or stone. The substance is ground between the pestle and the mortar.

Create a Logical Mind Map on Mortar and Pestle

Write Reports on mortar & pestle based on the information gathered in the Logical Mind Map

Report or Essay on MORTAR and PESTLE

For those who work with natural magical ingredients such as herbs, roots, and seeds a mortar and pestle set is a necessity when making up traditional sachet powders, incense powder compounds, or bath crystals and floor wash. The mortar is the bowl, which is often (but not always) rough or ridged inside. The pestle is the rod-like tool, and it too is generally (but not always) roughened at its wider bottom end, in order to make the work of powdering herbs go faster. Most hoodoo practitioners prefer to have at least two mortar and pestle sets, one for use with edible herbs and the other for toxic or inedible plant matter.

On this page are several traditional styles of mortar and pestle. Generally speaking, although any of these mortar and pestle sets, can be used for crushing or for grinding, those with tall and narrow mortar bowl patterns are employed for crushing, while those with short and wide mortar bowl patterns are used for grinding. These pictures are not shown to scale, but the approximate dimensions of the mortar bowl in each of the sets is given in inches.

The green marble mortar and pestle is about 4" high by 3 3/4" wide. This an old-time kitchen favourite that finds equal use in preparation of herbs and seeds for the altar. The green marble is veined with black. Crafted from natural stone, no two pieces are alike, but all are beautiful examples of humanity's aesthetics combined with Nature's artistry.

The white marble mortar and pestle is about 3" high by 3" wide. This is another old-time kitchen implement that is perfect for grinding herbs and seeds for magical work. The white marble is veined with grey, and, being natural stone, no two pieces are alike.

The brown mottled soapstone mortar and pestle is about 3" high by 4" wide. The rounder, wider mortar bowl and the softer stone used in this mortar and pestle set make it suitable for grinding herbs for use in magic spells. The brown soapstone is flecked and mottled with many shades of yellow, ochre, tan, and ivory, which makes it particularly beautiful as an altar tool. Of course, because it is carved of natural stone, no two pieces are alike.

The small porcelain mortar and pestle is about 1 1/2" high by 2 1/2" wide. The wide-mouthed mortar is made of shiny white glazed porcelain with an unglazed and rough interior. The pestle also is glazed, except for its rounded, unglazed, rough end. This is a handy little traditional mortar and pestle set, just the right size for powdering up small batches of herbs and seeds. Porcelain is lead-free and dishwasher safe.

Lesson3

Logical Mind Map

Mind Mapping

Introduced by Tony Buzan is a great tool for idea generation and brainstorming.

It enhance both sides of the human brain and widely used in taking notes, research or generating new ideas. A creative Mind Map is able to stimulate and create interest to the individual and also to the viewer.

Method Creative Thinking; Logical and Associated mind map Technique

Logical Mind Map

The Logical Mind Map is directly connected to stereotypes.

Associated Mind Map (Will be explained and elaborated by RadziBedu)

Using an associated mind map we are able to generate random words and also show the links between words that seemingly have no connection.

Logical Mind Maps & Stereotypes

Before beginning a Logical mind map we have to understand what a Stereotype is; below is the definition of the word.

DEFINITIONS OF STEREOTYPE

ster·e·o·type

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.

ster·e·o·typed, ster·e·o·typ·ing, ster·e·o·types

To make a stereotype of.

To characterize by a stereotype: “Elderly Americans are the neglected sector of the fashion industry, stereotyped by blue hair and polyester pantsuits” (American Demographics).

To give a fixed, unvarying form to.

The Logical Mind Map is directly connected to stereotypes.

The Rules Of Logical Mindmapping

Always have your SUBJECT in the center of the page.

Try to make the subject more dominant than the rest of the words and images in the mind map.

Decide on the main categories of the subject before executing on mind map.

Benefit of Logical Mind-Mapping Technique;

• It is a concise way of listing and categorizing a mass of information.

• The relationship between each word will help trigger memories and greatly reduce the amount of note taking and assist in the understanding of the subject.

• The more interesting the mind map the greater the interest that the on looker will have in the information.