We are in a state of detournement meaning that the re-usage of pre-existing artistic elements and dressing them up to appear contemporary is occurring on extreme levels. Like almost everything in life, this can be both positive and negative. The positive side demonstrates our knowledge and respect for the past and those who came before us. Also everything in life happens in cycles and that is inevitable. The contrasting aspect to this is the negative. What happens when something is reused so many times that it loses its original value? It’s worth declines until it no longer possesses any significance. Which brings me to my case and point, why have we as a society allowed companies, brands and the big black hole, “the internet” to formulate what we are permitted to do and desire?
WHAT SHANISE IS LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW:
But it’s not the Internet’s fault, the fault lies with the individual for buying into these messages they receive and share on a daily basis. The majority of us sit and think that we are individuals, creative, innovators, cool and whatever else that depicts us as being our own person with our own thoughts and point of view. When in reality, we are nothing but walking dead trends that have been spoon-fed to us through a silver screen. This is not saying that trends are horrible.
They are necessary evil that in some fashion needs to exist. We as a generation have to take responsible and step out of the darkness and realize that we are not all innovators and creators of the next “big” thing. Some of us are followers and that’s alright in moderation. Don’t treat creativity and the imagination like a dishtowel.
Can we stop abusing words like creative, individuality and innovator before they lose the tiny glimpse of merit that they have left? Forge ahead from the shadows of the crowd and stand-alone even if it is only for a mere few moments. Experience what it is like to be your own person. It may be one of the most rewarding and lonely periods of your life but it is an experience worth living.
My name is Gianni Lee (as if you didn’t already know) and I am many things. Gianni Lee is my name therefore it is my identity. Identity is what we all fight for, but what is an identity if creativity is not attached to it? Are you creative? Am I creative? What defines Creativity?
To answer these questions we have to travel to the soul of creativity, one’s self. Creativity refers to an idea or concept that a person “creates” or “manifests” that has some kind of value or significance. This significance or value is determined by the creator alone and/or by a group of people.
WHAT GIANNI IS LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW:
As you all have noticed I referenced my name in the beginning of this article, I did so not only to identify myself , but to show my individuality. The way I opened this article is something that I can call creative even from the most minimal point of view. I could have opened this article many ways but the fact that I chose to start off with my name to some degree projects my creativity. I question MY creativity as well as the creativity among the general population. Months of Tumblr crawling, hours of listening to music, and the miles that I have walked this year alone has led me to the same conclusion about creativity.
This is not one of those articles where I bash America and say that we are not creative enough, but are we? Before you call yourself creative and you go out to start your blog site, clothing brand, rap career, jewelry line, non-profit, mixtape, album , EP , rock band, indy band, comedy show, short film, art show, painting , sculpture , DJ Career , cooking show, popular dance , reality show , full-length film , vintage blog , tabloid site , ask yourself one question. Did I manifest this idea? Does this idea belong to me. Is it new?
History repeats itself, and throughout that history the people that have done something with their creativity are the ones that have created original concepts and ideas. Ezra Petronio from Self Service Magazine asks us , “ What is the essence of creativity? Is not being afraid to fail an essential aspect of creativity? Which is worse: failing or never trying? Does the ‘new norm’ of constant change require that we master ‘perpetual transformation’? Is inspiration an ongoing process? Why do you do what you do? Is inspiration irrational? How much is intuition apart of your work?”
I feel like we don’t ask ourselves enough questions when we create. Creativity is a spontaneous action and the conception of an idea is beautiful, but when you take that idea and test it over and over again until you perfect it that is what I believe real Creativity is. Basquiat was never done with a painting, maybe we should question our own works of art. Are we done? When you question your idea, when you question that one thing that you created that is when I think you truly understand what it means to be creative.
