Re: creativity resources
Well, this is not a reference, per se, but last night we were watching Whose Line is this Anyway (or something like that, hosted by Drew Carey-- a take off on a British show with a similar name that ran on the comedy cable network)--the creativity of the individuals was INCREDIBLE! I think it's supposed to seem like they are doing it off the top of their heads (improv), but I doubt it--like everything else on TV it has to look good so I suspect there is some practice and prompting that goes on. But for some comic relief in class, it would be a great idea to tape a few segments--in fact I'd be surprised if a relatively quick lit search wouldn't come up with some items relating creativity to comedy. annette PS Congrats! I can still remember that relief!!! On Thu, 3 Jun 1999, Dawn Blasko wrote: Hello everyone, In the fall I am teaching a new course on the psychology of creativity. I want to include some interesting biographical pieces of individuals considered highly creative in their fields. It's easy to get info on creative people in the arts and Gardner's books have been helpful with some political and scientific figures. I'd like to find something in a technical field, such as computer science or engineering. Any ideas would be appreciated! Dawn PS recently got the official thumbs up on tenure and promotion-what a relief! Dawn G. Blasko Ph.D. Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology Penn State Erie, The Behrend College Station Road Erie, PA 16563-1501 phone: 814-898-6081 http://www.pserie.psu.edu/hss/psych/blasko.htm Annette Taylor, Ph. D. Department of PsychologyE-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] University of San Diego Voice: (619) 260-4006 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 "Education is one of the few things a person is willing to pay for and not get." -- W. L. Bryan
Re: creativity resources
On Thu, 3 Jun 1999, Annette Taylor wrote: Well, this is not a reference, per se, but last night we were watching Whose Line is this Anyway (or something like that, hosted by Drew Carey-- a take off on a British show with a similar name that ran on the comedy cable network)--the creativity of the individuals was INCREDIBLE! I think it's supposed to seem like they are doing it off the top of their heads (improv), but I doubt it--like everything else on TV it has to look good so I suspect there is some practice and prompting that goes on. But for some comic relief in class, it would be a great idea to tape a few segments--in fact I'd be surprised if a relatively quick lit search wouldn't come up with some items relating creativity to comedy. annette The Bob Newhart show and Frasier would probably fall in this category.They do lots for Psychology and Psychiatry. Michael Sylvester Daytona Beach,Florida
Re: creativity resources
Dawn Blasko wrote: In the fall I am teaching a new course on the psychology of creativity I'd like to find something in a technical field, such as computer science or engineering. Any ideas would be appreciated! Dawn Dawn, You might take a look at work by Douglas Hofstadter, specifically, __Fluid concepts and creative analogies: Computer models of fundamental mechanisms of thought__. There's good information on the evolution of Hofstadter's own work in AI and references to several other fascinating programs. His discussion of computer generated prose and poetry (Racter program) has prompted excited discussion about the role of meaning and intent in artistic expression in my classes. This was a great lead in to theories of creativity that beg the question, is creativity in the individual, the product, the viewer, or the culture (e.g., Sternberg or Csikszentmihalyi). Excellent work by Kevin Dunbar traces the creative process and scientific reasoning in working labs over time. Sorry, I don't have the article here, but he had a chapter in Sternberg and Davidson's book, __The nature of insight__, and there are several references in that work. Robert Weisberg includes several case studies of science and invention in his book, __Creativity: Beyond the myth of genius__. He discusses Crick and Watson, but there is no substitute for reading Watson's own account in __The double helix__. Weisberg presents a problem solving perspective on creativity that depends on logical antecedents to new ideas. Another interesting perspective is presented by Kenneth Hope in a essay describing how the MacArthur Foundation was developed and set its criteria for selecting fellows. The essay is a chapter in an edited volume called __Creativity__ (Brockman, 1993). It's not science or technology, but sometimes we forget the creativity that goes into "judging" creativity and the impact of funding. Hope this is helpful. All my best, Pam Pamela Joyce Shapiro | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Temple University| voice mail: (215) 204-9595 Cognitive Psychology | box # 888-3214
