Craft

Abstract

Both lay people and psychologists interested in creative phenomena, and even creators themselves, are generally keen to identify the 'moment' when creativity happens—the stage of 'illumination'. It is no surprise, therefore, that very often creativity is metaphorically associated with a lit light bulb. However, without denying the role of insight, I consider such an approach reductionist at best, misleading at worst. What it does is actively obscure the stages of 'perspiration' that not only accompany but trigger creative thoughts. Learning, writing-up, checking and reformulating one's ideas are not second-hand activities but essential parts of creating, and this applies equally to celebrated and mundane creations. Creativity as mastery is the contrasting paradigm that doesn't oppose but, in fact, integrates and expands our understanding of creative ideation. If the light bulb is the emblematic symbol of the first, 'romantic' view of creativity, craftwork can be the emblem of the latter. What does it mean though, theoretically and practically, to consider creativity a form of craft? (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)