1686.23 - Contemporary Theory on Creativity, Imagination and Creative Work

1686.23

Contemporary Theory on Creativity, Imagination and Creative Work

10

Upper secondary school leaving certificate or comparable qualification.

This course introduces students to the main theories shaping contemporary research on creativity. Students will acquire knowledge about relevant concepts and the methods that have been used to analyse creativity from different perspectives. A main aim of the course is also to equip students with skills that will enable them to describe and analyse their own creative work from a theoretical perspective.

Imagination and creativity are often said to be subjects that cannot be explained scientifically. In this course, we will attempt to go beyond this mythical conception and try to understand creativity as any other human phenomenon. Among other things, we will consider whether it is possible to define creativity, whether there are different types of creativity, and whether creative work follows any particular procedure. As part of this investigation, we will discuss a number of theories of creativity that have been offered within philosophy and the cognitive sciences. We will analyse the strengths and weakness of each individual theory and assess to what extent the different theories are compatible with one another. In addition, we will discuss practical questions that arise in relation to creative work. Is it, for example, possible to learn to be creative, or is creativity mostly a matter of fortune and being in the right place at the right time? Are imagination and creativity always valuable? Also when they are used for destructive purposes? These questions force us also to consider creativity from an ethical and social vantage point.

Teaching is organised as class-based teaching with lectures and student presentations.

Students who successfully complete the course should be able to: - explain basic concepts in creativity research - describe and analyse key theories of creativity - compare different theories - assess the strengths and weaknesses of each individual theory - apply relevant concepts and theories in analyses of their own creative works

Set written take-home assignment (50%) Midterm take-home assignment (20%) Active participation (20%) Attendance (10%)

Internal

P-

Reading material will be distributed at the beginning of the course.

Jens Dam Ziska