In a world where economic prosperity and "getting ahead" in work and technology are highly valued, creativity and the arts are often stunted in favor of more "practical" pursuits. Students abandon dreams of acting or painting in order to major in medicine, computer technology, or engineering: highly profitable and scientific fields. Even with the advances in these fields, however, there is still a need for creativity in our world, because seeing things in a new way can make all the difference.
Today, more and more public schools are forced to abandon their arts programs to make time for subjects like science and math: sujects in which students must have a basic knowledge in order to succeed in higher education. However, by leaving these programs taght to view the world in "black and white" terms: on right answer to ever problem. With a view such as this, how will children perform is the future? It may be assumed that all people will see things the same way, and propose only one solution to a problem, failing to see the bigger picture.
Creativity has obviously influenced earlier generations in a positive way, so there is no need to eliminate creativity in our world, What would have happened if Franklin Roosvelt had never proposed his New Deal? The Great Depression might have persisted for some time, robbing more families of their chance at prosperity and happiness. However, by proposing a new, creative solution for the problem of the U.S.'s depression, FDR pulled the nation out of its slump. Another example of how creativity has positiviely influenced the world happened just recently, with the introduction of hybrid cars. These new cars do not rely on as much as oil as other cars do in order to operate, using alternative energy sources instead. Without creative minds behind the invention of these cars, the world would rely so much on its limited oil reserves that fuel would eventually run out. Because of creativity, the world has a chance to find other energy sources.
Though these practical applications for creativity are conducive to everyone, the commom man benefits even more from the sitimulation that the arts provide. In a world dominated by political powers and torn by war, entertainers in the arts can inspore hope and change to everyone. A child watching a Charlie Chaplin film might decide to join the gymnastics team, or a woman observing a Monet painting in a museum might become an elementary school art teacher: who knows? The arts can transport people to other places, into different ways of thinking.
The importance of creativity in the world today is enormous, for it has both pragmatic and "important" applications. Creativity is both a source for inspiration and a problem-solving method, and without it, our world would greatly suffer. |