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"There's no creativity/originality left."

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BlackElephant Obsidian Proboscidean from In the Room Since: Oct, 2011
Obsidian Proboscidean
#1: Jan 1st 2012 at 9:49:24 PM

What do you say when someone tells you that?

Today I sat down at the computer, all pumped to maybe write something, edit a photograph, or make a new song on Garageband. Then I thought about something constantly said by a group of people I used to hang out with: "Nobody has any creativity anymore."

Now, I realize that there is nothing new under the sun. I know there are only thirty-six basic plots and only so many types of musical genres, and I've been reading this site for a long time, so I know things (whatever the media) are bound to repeat themselves. But to say that nobody has any creativity anymore just seems untrue. It's not the idea, it's the execution of the idea that matters. There may not be many creative executions of stories in the mainstream media, but I'm sure there are plenty outside of that.

It wouldn't have stuck in my mind if they didn't continue and say, "And you're unlikely to be creative, so don't bother trying." This was made somewhat worse by the fact that they, too, were artists. I thought they would understand that though there weren't any new ideas, there could be new executions of the ideas.

I no longer hang around those people, as I have graduated college and not kept in touch. But whenever I start to create something, their words always put a tiny sliver of doubt in my mind.

What do you say to people who are discouraging like that (even if it's yourself) and does anyone else feel like they could "make a difference" in the creative world (whatever that means) if they work hard enough?

And is it possible to work as hard as you can, chase your passions at full speed, and still come off looking uninspired and bland? How does one even measure that?

(also, would this be better off in on-topic conversations? I put it in Yackfest because it didn't really seem like a focused thought, and I couldn't find any existing threads that went in this direction and I didn't want to derail the thread on creativity in the writer's block subforum.)

edited 1st Jan '12 9:49:58 PM by BlackElephant

I'm an elephant. Rurr.
thefran Easily Amused from a microwave oven Since: Oct, 2011
#2: Jan 1st 2012 at 9:52:02 PM

What do you say when someone tells you that?
I say nothing. My punches to genitalia are swift, silent and merciless.

It is actually people's talentlessness and laziness talking.

"Gee, I can't write anything and I didn't really try. Even if I do, it reads like plagiarism. I will now discourage everybody from trying because I would look less pathetic that way."

edited 1st Jan '12 9:53:59 PM by thefran

STEALTH!!!
CommanderObvious intellectual rapist from Unmei no Itaru Basho Since: Jul, 2011
intellectual rapist
#3: Jan 1st 2012 at 9:54:02 PM

"Sorry for being an artist."

it is true that there is no such thing as originality
but i see creativity as a trait that only a select amount of people possess
it is the ability to create interesting executions of concepts
there is also a need for talent but creativity is what makes art fun

and yes
there is no quantitative way to measure actual success
and there is always a good chance of it being bland to others
but is it a work that you are proud of?
if it is, then consider calling it art
if it isnt, redo again

This level of trolling is reasonable for Commander Obvious. What do you think of this, everyone?
Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#4: Jan 1st 2012 at 9:56:44 PM

I chuckle, maybe say something monosyllabic and noncommittal, and go on about my day knowing the name of one more idiot.

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
thefran Easily Amused from a microwave oven Since: Oct, 2011
#5: Jan 1st 2012 at 10:12:48 PM

[up][up]

Why do your posts remind me of e e cummings so much?

STEALTH!!!
CommanderObvious intellectual rapist from Unmei no Itaru Basho Since: Jul, 2011
intellectual rapist
#6: Jan 1st 2012 at 10:14:11 PM

because i copied his style
duh

This level of trolling is reasonable for Commander Obvious. What do you think of this, everyone?
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#7: Jan 1st 2012 at 10:14:30 PM

This was coined so that people wouldn't worry so much about coming up with the next new innovative thing, and just worry about putting effort into their work so that it's crafted as well as possible.

dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#8: Jan 1st 2012 at 10:17:49 PM

There are no new ideas or stories left.

The ways to convey the them, however, are infinite.

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
Thenamelesssamurai from Atlanta, Georgia Since: Nov, 2010
#9: Jan 1st 2012 at 10:24:03 PM

What do you say when someone tells you that?

Usually, I point out the irony involved in them making that statement.

edited 1st Jan '12 10:42:00 PM by Thenamelesssamurai

Imagine Rakan applying Calling Your Attacks to doing paperwork.~Anarchy Rakan for the hell of it COMMISSION THIS BRIDGE!~EHK
thefran Easily Amused from a microwave oven Since: Oct, 2011
#10: Jan 1st 2012 at 10:24:52 PM

This was coined so that people wouldn't worry so much about coming up with the next new innovative thing
Yes!

The point here being creativity alone doesn't suffice. Basically writing a story like it doesn't read like exactly something we've read already is enough creativity.

Science fiction / fantasy in particular suffers from this problem where you try and make up some fresh and original idea, then past onto it some cardboard cutouts following a basic cliched plot. Which is one of the main reasons it's still not considered actual literature.

Bestujev, Russian publicist/critic once wrote: "there is nothing new under the moon, and all the cats are grey in the dark... but look around, gentlemen, there might still be something new under the sun!"

edited 1st Jan '12 10:25:29 PM by thefran

STEALTH!!!
Kraken Since: Jun, 2012
#11: Jan 1st 2012 at 11:25:09 PM

There's nothing new under the sun.

But there might be something interesting or entertaining in the caverns of the earth.

LEMadness Nose-Chan from Florida Since: Mar, 2011
Nose-Chan
#12: Jan 1st 2012 at 11:43:46 PM

I kind of agree. There's not that much originality, but it's all about presentation.

Words, words, words.
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#13: Jan 1st 2012 at 11:49:19 PM

There is certainly originality and creativity left, but something does not have to be original or creative to be good. And something that is original and creative can be godawful.

go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#14: Jan 1st 2012 at 11:50:37 PM

I can't be the only one who thinks certain mediums are more original now, like TV?

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Vorpy Unstoppable Sex Goddess from from from from from from from from from Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Two-timing
Unstoppable Sex Goddess
#15: Jan 1st 2012 at 11:58:49 PM

There is no such thing as a story about a gothic dimetrodon female persuing an art certificate in a hyneria-dominated field, with her trusty technological 4th dimensional side-kick anchorplasm at her side giving her cynical but meaningful advice along the way.

Troper Page
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#16: Jan 2nd 2012 at 12:02:07 AM

What the hell is an anchorplasm?

go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
Kraken Since: Jun, 2012
#17: Jan 2nd 2012 at 12:09:48 AM

Erock: That's because nobody did very much with television until now.

feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#18: Jan 2nd 2012 at 12:34:21 AM

Maybe, just maybe, there are no original elements left. But stories are about more than their individual elements—just because The Sandman and Questionable Content both have a Perky Goth doesn't mean they're the same.

edited 2nd Jan '12 12:34:29 AM by feotakahari

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful
wannabeotaku I can't breathe in this from Earth Since: May, 2009
I can't breathe in this
#19: Jan 2nd 2012 at 12:38:24 AM

I tell them to look at their very expensive phone. Someone had to be creative to think up these things

Hello again tropers
thefran Easily Amused from a microwave oven Since: Oct, 2011
#20: Jan 2nd 2012 at 12:57:55 AM

There's nothing new under the sun.
Cultural connotations. Russian language does not contain a phrase "there is nothing new under the sun".

STEALTH!!!
AwesomeZombie22 Shaggy haired shaman from somewhere over the rainbow Since: Apr, 2010
#21: Jan 2nd 2012 at 1:20:58 AM

I once heard "there's nothing new under the sun" used as an argument as to why Mary Sues don't exist.

And my stance on it is that, basically, a story is made up of different elements, kind of like how a cake is made up out of different ingredients. Now, sure, the ingredients are used in a lot of other dishes, but people arrange them differently and make their own recipes out of them. It's the way you arrange these components that makes it a new dish.

Usually here.
AirofMystery Since: Jan, 2001
#22: Jan 2nd 2012 at 1:26:49 AM

I'm entirely in agreement, and I particularly hate the argument that it's okay for Y thing to rip off X thing because X thing was obviously influenced by Z, A and B things. There's a major difference between taking something as an influence and just copying its superficial outer elements.

dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#23: Jan 2nd 2012 at 2:30:39 AM

Originality is overrated.

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
0dd1 Just awesome like that from Nowhere Land Since: Sep, 2009
Just awesome like that
#24: Jan 2nd 2012 at 3:08:38 AM

Regarding "And is it possible to work as hard as you can,chase your passions at full speed,and still come off looking uninspired and bland?", I'd say no. Even if you're completely inept at creating something, if you work hard at it it'll still be something distinct and uniquely yours. See: the entire discography of the Shaggs, Use Boll's filmography, My Immortal.

Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.
thefran Easily Amused from a microwave oven Since: Oct, 2011
#25: Jan 2nd 2012 at 4:40:19 AM

> Uwe Boll works as hard as he can

You know he's a scam artist, right?

STEALTH!!!

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