Summary Of Amy Tan's Where Does Creativity Hide

Feeling negligent in creative endeavors, I have often wondered about creativity, where does it come from, and how is it developed? These questions are what author and speaker Amy Tan muses over in her discourse entitled “Where does Creativity Hide?” I find her perspective both intriguing and provocative, appreciating much of what she has to say, while disagreeing on occasion as well.
Amy Tan (2008) begins by considering three facets that develop creativity in individuals. The first aspect is nature; it is possible the some are born with higher creative tendencies than others. Secondly, she discusses nurture in the growth of creativity. However, rather than reviewing how positive nurturance fosters creative growth, she suggests that negative experiences promote creative energy in the sense that survival sometimes requires extra resourcefulness. Finally, Tan describes how uncertainty and ambiguity provoke creativity by forcing a search for answers.
Tan (2008) continues by describing how inspiration and coincidence converge during the creative process to reveal realities that one was previously unaware. Being cognizant of inspiration and coincidence allow her to associate circumstances together to discover …show more content…
I recognize creating something new out of currently existing elements, be they materials or ideas. I understand looking at things from a different perspective, one that you have not considered before. But does that mean setting aside certain concepts of reality? How open minded would one be if they questioned the law of gravity and jumped of a building. Or if one questioned getting to the North Pole by going north. Maybe one desires to travel there by heading east. Who is the one who is truly being open-minded? The one who believes traveling east will allow them to reach the North Pole, or the one who believes in only one way to reach the North Pole, that is by journeying