On a Whim, on a Wednesday: Is Creativity Becoming Extinct?

Technology.

It is kinda a BIG DEAL.

For better, or for worse.

...or for both.


Technology is creating a society of
short attention spanned,
hot headed zombies.


OR....

Technology is creating a world of
information,
collaboration,
and opportunity.

"I've heard it both ways."
(Thank you, Sean Spencer).

I definitely have some rather developed, supported, and
-most importantly-
evolving opinions on the matter.

But I think that I'll hold off on writing that post.
Especially since I am smack dab in the middle of some pretty expansive research on the matter.

Because, you see, I'm writing an essay.

An essay where I basically explore
the impact that technology has on the
creative foundation of adults,
as well as on the
creative potential for children.


Soon to come: My new-and-improved opinion on the matter.

And just in case this subject is as important you to as it is to me, (or even if you just want to dip your toes in a bit)
here is a list of my chosen research sources:

THESE books:

And THESE articles from the internets:

>Want To Be More Creative? Get Bored.
by
Martin LindstromLink:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1829462/want-be-more-creative-get-bored

A blog post centered on an
interview with Isaac Asimov
by
Maria PopovaLink:
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/01/28/isaac-asimov-creativity-education-science/


And please oh PLEASE share your thoughts on the matter!

Determined that I'm going to thoroughly read each of these books before my essay is due next week,
Monica.

Tuning in to Tuesday: Up and Up

I'm a mildly big fan of Christian Rock.

Sometimes, members of the LDS Church tend to shy away from this musical genre.

Because mixing the sounds of popular modern day music with subjects like
repentance
and the Spirit
and Jesus Christ...

can be a rather peculiar juxtaposition
that we just plain are not accustomed to.

And some would even argue that it is irreverent to mingle such sacred subjects with such casual musical form.

Okay.
To each his own.

But in this modern day when even my dear old country music becomes just as littered with inappropriateness as any other popular music genre,

I have no problem changing the radio station to
songs about the Savior.
Songs that give hope.
Songs about being charitable.
Songs about spreading the good news.

Are there sometimes specific doctrinal references that I don't necessarily agree with?

Hmmmm, yes.

But if disagreements on the specifics of a matter
(even eternally important ones)
mean that I should avoid association with the source,
then I guess it is time for me to go live in the mountains and cut off absolutely all ties with my fellow human beings.

And maybe raise goats, while I'm at it.

And although I strongly believe that there is in fact a need for reverent handling of sacred subjects,
I'm not going to reject a song just because it
accompanies Christ's teachings with
guitars and drums
instead of
a piano and violin.


And if you disagree?
That's okay.
I'm perfectly fine with that.
(see previous note on handling "disagreement.")

On that note, I would like to share one of my favorites:

Up and Up - Relient K

This song is for when
you feel guilty about digging a hole for yourself,
but you want to have faith that you can climb out of it.

And to remember that Christ is more than happy to join you for the climb.

This song is also for when your car is broken down and you have had a crappy day and you feel like there is just no way you can manage to walk up the monstrous hill back home.

Yeah.
When THAT happens,
cue THIS song:



I'm just trying to be a better version of me for You,
Monica.

Mountains, Trees and Mondays: On Ponds and Improvisations.

This semester I am taking a watercolor class.

At first, it was a bit daunting.
Because watercolors can be a little crafty.

(and no... no "arts and crafts" pun intended, there).

But I am very quickly discovering that using watercolors really is just getting back to my ROOTS.

I think that now I may just have to go and do a painting of roots for my next project....


But even after defeating the mountain of "I'm not really sure I like using watercolors," I one day found myself in class, completely petrified by the new mountain before me:

We were going to gather our supplies.
Walk up to the gardens.
And paint.
Outside.

(Which process is more accurately referred to as "plein air.")

Now, yes, you're probably thinking,
"but Monica... that sounds like just the kind of thing you would love to do!"

Yes. Yes it does.

Except for the part about me that gets exceedingly anxious about surprises that involve carrying things somewhere else and not knowing what to take and what to leave and feeling like I am carrying too much and am bound to drop it or lose it or find myself in some kind of unexpected circumstance and thus be faced with the choice of what to bring, what to leave, what to go back for, and in what order to do it....

My heartbeat is quickening just thinking about it.

(p.s. Yes, I DO have a hard time traveling due to these particular anxieties. Packing is... well, packing it nightmarish).

And I considered doing what half of my classmates did:
packed there stuff up, and left class early.

But I decided to be brave.
And so I grabbed my awkward-to-carry watercolor palette, my noisy and cluttered little "box" with brushes and pencils and tapes and erasers, my even MORE awkward-to-carry (and rather large) painting board, and a couple pieces of watercolor paper (which I was CONVINCED were going to somehow fly away from me and I would have to chase after them).

And I felt pretty good about my decision.

That is, until I got to the campus gardens and realized that I forgotten to bring water...
for my watercolors....

I almost panicked.

But then the adventurer in me kicked in
and I thought to myself,
"No water, huh? Well... maybe this is a good opportunity to paint a pond."

And so I found a little table and chair on a deck next to a pond.

And I... used the, uh... pond water.

Yes.
I occasionally leaned over,
stuck my little brush into that little pond,
loaded it with water,
and used it to mix up some "pond-ish" colors on my palette.

And I proceeded to paint some leaves that had sunken to the bottom of the pond.

And I really hope I gave some passerby a good laugh.

Because goodness knows, I was a bit giggly, myself.

And I came away from the experience with the satisfaction that I had done something WAY out of my comfort zone, and it ended up being quite the relaxing experience.

...as well as the resolve to go get a really small, lidded watercolor palette, a small pad of watercolor paper, a small lidded container for water, and proceed to rubber band all these things together and create a "plein air" kit.

You know, for those "plein air" emergencies.

Can you paint with all the colors of the pond?
Monica.

Tuning in to Tuesday: Where the Green Grass Grows.

Let's just start out with a picture,
shall we?

yes.....


Yes, that just about
SAYS IT ALL.

On that note,
here is one of my all time favorite songs:



Please, oh please listen to this song.

Because I'm sure it will bring you all sorts of wonderful
NOSTALGIA.

On another note,
being able to do a slow fiddle,
that soulfully and cleanly,
is pretty much my greatest aspiration for
my stringed-instrument skill level.

It makes my heart just
slow down...

...and
be content.


Watch my corn pop up in rows,
Monica.