The Nature of Creativity — Part 5
Creativity & Destruction — Polar Opposites
If you’ve been following this series, you know that I’ve already mentioned this defining feature of creativity quite a few times in passing. Now it’s time to explore it a bit more deeply.
(If you haven’t been following, please read the preceding posts to catch up. Thanks.)
As usual, here is the restatement of my basic premise, taken from Part One of this series:
Creativity is the polar opposite of destruction. Like most things in life, creativity and destruction (making & breaking) exist as opposite poles on a continuum. Pure creativity, therefore, contains nothing destructive, and pure destruction contains no hint of creativity. Human creativity in real life, is represented on points all along the creative-destructive continuum, and contains varying amounts of either, depending on proximity to either absolute. The obvious aim of any creative endeavour is therefore to minimise, even eradicate all destructiveness, and maximise creativity.
Most people, if they actively think about creativity at all, assume that the opposite of creativity is merely the absence of creativity. Most people think that creativity either exists or doesn’t; that people are either creative, or not. In other words, most people don’t see creativity as having an opposite, let alone a negative opposite.
This isn’t because people are stupid, it’s just that most people haven’t thought about it. The application of just a little thought makes it very obvious that creativity, like most things, must have an opposite.
One of the other basic, defining premises of creativity, is that something is made. In fact, this is such a vital aspect, that the words make and create are almost perfectly interchangeable. The opposite of making, is not that nothing is made. The opposite of making is breaking.
The opposite of creativity is therefore, destruction.
A continuum is a line, connecting two polar opposites, and acts as a sort of sliding scale between the two. In this case, the opposites are creativity and destruction.
Firstly, the continuum indicates that these polar opposites do not exist in isolation from each other — they are connected.
Secondly, as points on the line move away from, or toward a pole, their make-up changes accordingly. Think of it as a sliding scale. As actions move toward the creativity pole, they are more creative and less destructive. Similarly, actions become more destructive, and less creative as they move toward the destruction pole.
(For the moment I will ignore the possibility that any destruction within an action, destroys all creativity in that action. Think one drop of ink in clean, drinking water. That is a debate for another time.)
I’ve already dealt with the fact that all humans have the potential for creativity. Since destructiveness is the opposite of creativity, all humans also have the potential for destruction. We only have to look at the world around us to know that this is true.
Wars, corporate and individual greed, abusive relationships, selfishness, egotism, theft, murder … The ways in which we manage to be actively destructive are almost endless.
Perfect creativity is sadly, rare (or maybe impossible), and perfect destructiveness is happily, also rare (or hopefully impossible). Everything that we do, given the imperfection of human nature, is some mix of creativity and destructiveness. Sometimes the distinction is obvious, while at other times, it is less clear. For instance:
- Breaking down a wall in house is undeniably destructive. But, what if demolition is part of a creative redesign and renovation process?
- Paper is used for drawing, painting, origami, and many other creative/artistic activities. But, paper production requires destruction of trees or other materials, and also has a negative environmental impact on air and water. How does that destructiveness effect paper-based artistic creativity?
- Some see an urban mural as art/creativity, while others see it as destructive graffiti.
I’m very aware that my observations, on the fundamental nature of creativity and destruction, may seem simplistic. I know that this seemingly simple continuum is, in reality, a potential minefield of complexity, confusion, and doubt.
It is for this very reason, that I’ve purposely laid a simple foundation. Even the most complex of buildings, are built on a simple, solid foundation.
It is true that creativity or destructiveness of actions on the continuum can, at times be complex, and worthy of debate. However, this should not deter us from striving toward creativity. The question is, of course, how do we strive toward creativity, rather than destruction?
- Be conscious of both creativity and destruction in all thought and action. Awareness is the first step.
- Consciously choose creative over destructive thoughts, behaviours, patterns, and actions. The aim here is not instant perfection, but conscious effort, and gradual growth in creativity.
- Become increasingly aware of possibly destructive elements within actions that have previously been assumed creative. You may notice these less obviously destructive elements in relationships, business, art, and even how you speak to, and treat yourself.
- Build a firm, simple foundation of interesting thinking, morality, and ethics for your creativity — in every area of your life.
- Continue this cycle of development (steps 1–4) over and over again.
Our society is already far too destructive. I challenge you, as I challenge myself, in small ways or large, to overcome destruction by means of conscious creativity.
