I just watched an incredible and insightful video on the oft-impossible weight of creativity from Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) at TED this year.
If you consider yourself to be a creative person, or know someone who does, please take 20 minutes to watch this video.
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June 2, 2009 -
interesting talk. i think she definitely hit on something, but didn’t take it all the way (or took it the wrong way). i think the point that WE as humans are not the source of creativity is key to not self-destructing. there’s a lewis quote from the great divorce where he says something like “when the poet moves from the love of the thing he’s telling to the love of the telling, he finds himself in hell” or something to that effect. so, not just “divine inspiration”, but dedication to that which you are telling, not to your telling. the wrong turn i think was the “ole to you anyway”/”you are god” line near the end because you show up and do your work even without inspiration… though that seems almost oxymoronic. but interesting overall.
June 3, 2009 -
loved the video… regardless of her conclusions, i think it’s intriguing as it’s the open thoughts of a person on a creative journey, teetering on the divine…