Chapter 6 Summary - You Are Not Alone

This chapter summarizes the differences in culture, intelligence, and what these two things have to do with creativity. Robinson is quick to point out that although creativity is often thought of as a personal trait it is not. Creativity stems from culture and grows in different ways according to popular culture of the time.

In order to first understand how culture effects creativity you must first define culture. This chapter gives two definitions. The first is being "cultured" or what society has come to know as a preferred consumer of the fine arts. However for this chapter Robinson uses the second definition of culture which is "..the shared values and patterns of behaviour that characterise different social groups and communities." (pg. 168)

It is true that most people belong to more than one culture group. Each of these groups also has its own values and ways of doing things. These are the ways that a group or culture express their identity and these are the culture groups that bring about creative change.

Robinson goes on to state that the knowledge that we have does not only come from ourselves but rather from others. Those around us effect the way we think and effect the way we create ideas. Because of this network of knowledge much of our knowledge of the world is dependent upon others. For example, I know much about art and can share that knowledge with others. Other teachers in our school are good at teaching other subjects, however when we work together only then does the school become great. Students will need the knowledge from all teachers in the future and therefore each teacher is dependent upon the other to make sure that students leave high school with the skills they need to prosper in the future.

It is with this growth of human knowledge that we are becoming more of a specialist society. This is something that Robinson warns us about. As the rise of the specialist occurs, we no longer have in sight the larger picture and how all this knowledge and creativity connect to each other. We must remember how to engage together our own specialities in order to preserve our different cultures.

This leads to creativity and culture. Robinson states that "We stand on the shoulders of others to see further." (pg. 171) This means that in order for us to be creative we often first must use the creative genius of others to propel us on our own creative path.

Culture drives what is creative in society. When Shakespeare was writing he wrote poetry and plays not novels. It was not until the printing press was created that novels became popular. This is not to say that Shakespeare did not think about writing novels however technology did not allow for these to be mass produced therefore the technology of the time powered what was creative. Robinson gives another example of photography. Prior to photography painting was the main way to capture the present and was thought of as truly an art form, however once photography was invented it became a new way to capture the present. Still the fist photographers mimicked the way oil painting was done. It was the culture of this time that drove this form of creativity. It was not until later that photography was deemed its own art form and a new culture was born.

Culture has also brought together two forms of knowledge that for many years have remained separate. Those are the Sciences and the Arts. Robinson uses the example of two individuals who created a fashion collection titled "Primitive Streak". This show combined the knowledge of a scientist and that of a fashion designer. This show can be seen at this website www.helenstoreyfoundation.org/psbg.htm I recommend visiting it. It is quite fascinating.

Robinson goes on to summarize that culture is ever changing and driving our creative habits accordingly. As time changes new ideas are coming and going. Some ideas even repeat themselves such as feminism. Creativity and culture change is not just a logical process. New ideas take hold when they strike an interest and develop a mood in society. "They appeal to the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times, the ghost in the social system, or what Raymond Williams has called the 'stucture of feeling' of a time." (pg 178)

To summarize this chapter one only has to look at the title. "You Are Not Alone" It is the perfect summary. Creativity comes of a network of knowledge and is based upon cultural preferences of the time. These preferences do not always happen quickly. It may take time the road may be rocky. It is with these great changes that we as creative members of society base our creative thoughts and actions, working together, out of our minds.