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CCTP-728-01 Networks and the Creative Process
Spring only
Describing the basis of his genius, Isaac Newton—one of the most renowned scientists of all time—minimized his own, individual contributions, and explained his monumental intellectual achievements not in terms of his own personal attributes, but rather by virtue of his ability to “stand on the shoulder of giants.” Notwithstanding Newton’s humble explanation, we often continue to attribute innovation and creativity to the insights and perseverance of ‘individual genius.’ Thus, for example, we credit Samuel Morse with the invention of the telegraph, and Thomas Edison with that of the light bulb, among other things.
Today, however, many scholars are taking Newton’s claim to heart. Motivated, perhaps, by the rising competition associated with the globally networked economy, as well as our growing appreciation of the complexity of our world, scholars are delving far more deeply into the questions of what constitutes creativity, and how it comes about. Instead of focusing only on the individually inspired creative act, they are looking at creativity instead as the product of an emergent, networked process that stems from the way that individuals interact together in a collaborative setting. Creativity scholars suggest, moreover, that the structure—or, as one might say, architecture—of the creative environment is a key factor determining creative outcomes. Thus, many look to today’s more advanced and flexible information and communication technologies as a means of structuring collaborative settings so as to foster greater creativity.
Building upon this growing literature, this course explores the nature of creativity as an emergent process that is carried out by networks of actors who, although interacting freely, are also grounded in a complex social order. In the first few classes, the discussion will focus on historical ways of thinking about ‘creativity,’ and why and how they might be flawed. Next, the students will be introduced to the practice of ‘improvisation,’ and how it has helped collaborative groups generate creative outcomes in areas as diverse as theater, art, music, science, and business. The class will then consider recent advancements in information and communication technologies to determine the extent to which they might better structure collaborative interactions. Finally, to provide students a foundation for further inquiry and analysis, the class will consider the creative process as a whole—placing it within a more theoretical perspective that builds upon symbolic interaction, emergence, and complex adaptive systems.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
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