Geoff's Nonfiction Blog

1. Are People Getting Less Creative?
2. The Full Picture
3. Art: The Ultimate Enigma
4. Being Open Only Makes You Stronger
5. Breaking The Mind Boundaries
6. The Frame of Mind
7. The Cautionary Creativity Crunch
8. Being Open Cures Blindness
9. I Bought A Camera
10. Breaking Through The Canvas

Part 1:

From da Vinci to Kanye West, the art world has witnessed entire revolutions. If we didn’t move on from admiring the perfectly symmetrical face of Mona Lisa, we would still be stuck in the Renaissance. Once again, humans rely on tradition, but also thrive on change. In other words, change is like a friendly beast, and ignoring it is only going to make it more big and angry. No one can escape change, as humans always get bored of what they have already. We see it in other domains, from buying the newest iPhone to wanting the planet to recycle more. Why can’t we continue to do the same for art?

Part 2: 

1. What is art?
2. Photography not being art
3. Issues with medium
4. Restricting “new” art
5. Lack of creativity found in homes
6. Lack of creativity found in schools

Revisions: I expanded on Ruqeyeh’s view point on photography not truly being art and changed some wording for my analogy.

Ibn Ruqeyeh and Jenika both tackle this issue. According to Jenika’s article “Photography Isn’t Art.” “The problem, of course, is that “art” is a valuable category, but there are no clear yellow-and-black stripes that stand out to say “this is art.”” (Jenika, 2013). Art is meant to be a form of self-expression regardless of the medium. There is no one and nothing that can really define art being Art. On the other hand, Ruqeyeh’s article “Why Photography Isn’t Art” argues that art has to focus on representation, and that photography doesn’t effectively do that. “A painting is art because of how it represents — how it communicates and transmits ideas. With respect to the photograph, we’re not interested in the picture itself. Instead, what captures the attention, the only thing(s) doing any representation-work, are the subjects. […] That is the reason why photography isn’t art.” (Ruqeyeh, 2015). I agree that art should communicate and transmit ideas, but I also disagree that all photography only focuses on the subjects and that photography doesn’t communicate and transmit ideas. Evidently, photography can be performed under a more documentarian style, and in that case I agree, but wouldn’t the most hyper realistic painting of a swan convey that same documentarian feeling? Once again, medium is just medium; it is merely a tool to express anything the artist desires to express. 

New lead: I was late to my math class, like super late. The type of lateness that merits a bit of yelling and humiliation. As I paced through the hallways as a young seventh grader, I came to an abrupt stop. There it was in big letters, plastered across a huge painting of a globe; “The earth without art is just “eh””. This statement clinged on to me. Maybe too much. Halfway through that math class after receiving that bit of yelling and humiliation, I stopped working. I couldn’t concentrate. As someone who’s never really cared about art due to the lack of emphasis it was given in my elementary school, it felt like a desperate call for action. I wanted to become an artist, but I didn’t know what the word “art” even really meant.

On-Topic Research (Photography Not Being Art)

In Ruqeyeh and Jenika’s articles, both authors tackle the question about photography being an art form. Jenika’s article takes a more libertarian approach to the topic, while Ruqeyeh’s takes a more firm approach. According to Jenika’s article “Photography Isn’t Art.” “The problem, of course, is that “art” is a valuable category, but there are no clear yellow-and-black stripes that stand out to say “this is art.” This is a strong argument because it’s simply true. Art is meant to be a form of self-expression regardless of the medium. There is no one and nothing that can really define art being Art. On the other hand, Ruqeyeh’s article “Why Photography Isn’t Art” argues that for art to be considered Art has to focus on representation. “A painting is art because of how it represents — how it communicates and transmits ideas […] That is the reason why photography isn’t art.” I completely agree that art should communicate and transmit ideas, but I also completely disagree that all photography doesn’t do that. Sure that some photography is performed under a more documentarian style, and in that case I agree, but wouldn’t the most hyper realistic painting of a swan convey that same documentarian feeling? Once again, medium is just medium; it is merely a tool to express anything the artist desires to express. 

Like a well-built house, children need a well-built foundation. If children don’t have this well-built foundation, they will easily crumble and fall into mainstream society. Kyung Hee Kim (a researcher at the College of William and Mary) conducted research on children’s creativity and concluded that children are “less humourous, less imaginative and less able to elaborate on ideas”. Hypothetically, some of these kids will want to become artists, but will ultimately ravage each other’s ideas. Some of these kids will become businessmen, all trying to reinvent the wheel. Additionally, some of these kids will become architects all specialising in tract housing. When people start to lose this sense of freedom and creativity, society becomes very monotone and unforgiving. Think of it like a child trying a new vegetable for the first time; he or she probably won’t like it from the get-go and will never want to eat it again because of its disgusting taste. But once that child starts trying this new vegetable, he or she may or may not start liking it. Even if the vegetable is still disgusting, that child will know what he or she likes to eat. If that little seed of curiosity is never planted into our future thinkers and innovators, how are they supposed to think and innovate differently?

Scene: First hand scene

My friend (won’t mention his name) has always been a picky eater. Definitely the pickiest eater I’ve ever known. It used to be whenever I would hang out with him, he would shut down any restaurant suggestion that he’s never heard of or ate at and enjoyed. He essentially never tried anything out of his comfort zone eating-wise, until the day I finally convinced him (fall of 2018). Being the polar opposite of him when it comes to eating new food, it was my goal to convince him, but in a comfortable manner. Since I knew he liked burgers, I suggested a gourmet burger place near St. Laurent Blvd. After we ordered, we sat down and waited. I could see the worry in his face. Once we got our orders, he took the first bite, and was absolutely amazed. It was one of the best he’s ever eaten. From that point on, he’s always been open to try new food places.

Step one

When I was 6 years old, I went to Florida for the first time to see my father’s side of the family for the first time. It was also my first time on a plane, which was pretty nerve-racking. I still remember the takeoff being very scary. From the plane occasionally shaking to my ears popping, it was all so new to me. I also felt that everyone in that plane was staring at my very nervous 6 year old self, shaking like a leaf. Anyways, when we landed, we were greeted with the hottest weather I’ve ever witnessed. Soon after we got out of the airport, a man started walking to us. At that exact moment, I had no idea why he was approaching us smiling, but then it kicked in; he must be my uncle. And he was! After meeting my first relative from my father’s side, we then went to go meet the rest of his side, which was really cool. Seeing all these new welcoming faces was honestly one of the greatest moments in my life. After meeting most of the older ones, I got to meet the younger and more relatable relatives. That was refreshing since everyone cousin on my mom’s side is at least 10 years older than I am. Seeing all these new people and taking this ridiculously hot environment in all at the same time was almost too much, but my 6 year old self somehow managed to keep his cool.

Step two

When I was 6 years old, I went to Florida to see my father’s side for the first time. It was also my first time on a plane in which I was very nervous. When we landed, it was extremely hot. After we got out of the airport, a smiling man started coming towards us, later to find out that he was my uncle. We then went to see the rest of my father’s side, which was one of the best moments in my life so far. Seeing all these new and mostly younger relatives was really refreshing, especially since relatives on my mother’s side are all much older.

Step three

When I was a little boy, I ventured off to Florida for the very first time to see my old man’s bloodline for the very first time. It was also my first time aboard an aircraft, which scared the living daylights out of my younger self. My nervousness on takeoff was unparalleled. I was shaking in my skeleton. From the aeroplane trembling to my ears popping like popcorn, this all felt very novel. I also felt like every soul on the plane was eyeing me down left right and center at my broken-down, composure-lacking and juvenile self. Regardless, as my parents and I walked out of the air-conditioned gigantic shuttle, we were greeted with the hottest weather I’ve ever witnessed, as if we were entering a volcano. It was the epitome of heat. After we shortly entered and exited the terminal-infested airport, a strange elderly man started pacing towards us in an almost predatorial-esque fashion. At that moment, I had no clue in the world why this mystery man was approaching my loved ones and I in this sort of fashion, but it then hit me; this mystery man must be my father’s brother, a.k.a my uncle. After getting acquainted with my new uncle, we then proceeded to getting acquainted with the rest of these mysterious dwellers which was spectacular. Seeing all these strange yet friendly visages was as refreshing as watermelon at halftime and was one of the greatest miracles that I’ve ever witnessed in my time. After meeting most of the elderly, I then proceeded to meet a bunch of the younger blood. Again, this was refreshing since almost every soul on my mother’s bloodline was much older than I was. Getting familiar with all these fresh faces in the sweltering heat was nearly too much to handle for my underaged body, but that underaged body somehow kept it together and kept his cool.