Reflection on a reading

In week 3 we watched a lecture by John Cleese on creativity. I found what he had to say on the subject of creativity quite enlightening and encouraging. He first outlined that creativity is not a talent – that it is instead a way of operating.
Cleese outlined that people who are deemed “creative” are those that had the facility to get into a mood that allowed their creativity to function. In other words, they are those who can tap into and remain in that mindset that is most conducive to the creation of ideas. The closest analogy to this is that of a childlike state, one not governed by practicality, but by a more broad approach. In his speech Cleese sighted findings by psychologist that there are two modes in respect to our daily mindsets. The first is the closed mode, that which we experience when there is lots to be done and we are anxious and not outward looking. The other mode, the one more conducive to creativity is the open mode. This mode is characterized by a more relaxed and expansive mindset.
This made me reflect on my own creative practice and caused me to realize that I could not just become creative at my desk or at university, I had to maintain a certain outlook all of the time. It is an interesting thing to keep in mind that my development in creative areas depends heavily on this mindset. So after watching the lecture, I was able to draw much good advice on the upkeep of this way of thinking – a practice that will undoubtedly hold benefits for me as I work through this course and move further  towards my final project

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