Let us not confuse “that
which is different” with the loftier concepts of “that which is innovative or
creative.” Many are mere expressions of intellectual fraud, as though there isn’t
enough fraud going around.
Innovation
studies – Nowadays there are full university programs offering degrees
in innovation. As honey to flies, grants are available is why. Websites are
available for all innovators, to infect those without ability with a perception
they have it. Innovation studies programs are even available to youngsters aged
10-18. Mostly, they just train folks about
new stuff, though leaving them unable to contribute to it. For example,
business innovation is little more than awareness of needs for better products
and marketing. In brief, these programs mostly only teach “new” or “different.” The world so craves new ideas that it invests
huge sums to produce what will soon be called innovative nonsense. Futurists
are their philosophers.
Creative
writing – Change the order of sentences, use a twist of words,
conflate incongruous themes, throw in a couple of curse words, involve socially
frowned-on themes, and you’ll get an “A” in your creative writing class. Why? Because
the instructors don’t know what it is either. They simply teach writing “different” and call
it creative. Nobody ever reads it but
the teacher and maybe the student’s mom.
Contemporary
anything – Frequently, it means unusual or bizarre, sometimes
following new rules but often simply abandoning old rules and having no
discipline. Witness the spectrum of
contemporary music or art ranging from pure trash to the most interesting. But we
do see considerable creative writing efforts to describe schlock art in
complementary terms. Ditto for contemporary schlock wine, furniture, and yes, high
fashion. Here we see “different” in the
service of “contemporary.”
>>You never hear about
contemporary or innovative physics or math, chemistry or biology. These
subjects are creative, contemporary, and innovative by construct. Occasionally, you’ll hear about classical
versions, though for comparison.
>>In most cases
innovative this, creative that, or contemporary something come from years of
study and actually being at the research cutting edge, not just having read a
book about it. And this is just what the best innovation programs are. They are the familiar nanotech, immuno-systems,
quantum, and similar researches now wearing a new “innovation” hat.
>>Everyone acknowledges
the importance of these topics.
Innovations, creations drive the world onward, for goodness sakes. But who knows how to teach them?
Comments
Post a Comment
Please Comment.