Can Creativity exist without emotion?

Before I continue it is important to define what emotion involves. Emotion can be defined as an engine that drives our actions. It can also be defined as a language that is exerted through our actions. Emotions are uncontrollable, they are a simple mental state that arises spontaneously.

To expain the existance of creativity with emotion, I am going to use the example of an artist. When an artist creates a piece of work, he/she is usually absorbed in a mental state that has risen from past experiences and knowledge. The mental state creates a feeling (ie happpy, sad, etc), the artist then uses this feeling to create a work that conveys meaning to the audience and the producer. The production of an emotion in art, in the real world, allows everyone to distinguish between what is artificial and what is genuine. (ie what exists soley for a purpose and what exists to convey meaning)

If an artist was not in a mental state and did not produce any emotion, then the product produced would be an innovation. (ie a product that is new and useful), an example of an innovation is a cereal box, it does not produce any feeling for the audience and only exists for a purpose, it does not convey meaning.

If emotion is present in any creative product than the equilibrium of our minds should infact be disturbed, we should produce feelings and derive meaning. If our minds are at an equilibirum then the creative product that is being observed is an innovation.

Bruce DeBoer has cleverly formulated the difference between art and innovation as seen below.

Imagination (creativity) + Emotion = Art

Imagination (creativity) + Function = Innovation

This simple model shows that creativity can exist without emotion. However, when looking at an artist, a piece of work without emotion only exist as an innovation and will appear to be dry and superficial. Thus, it will mean nothing to the producer or the audience. With literature, most writings exist as an art; they produce emotions and feelings for the audience.

Creativity can exist without emotion; however no human can solely function without emotion. Every artist will produce once in while an innovation (a state in the mind where everything is ordered); however after time things will become disordered in the mind, it is this that produces a meaningful artwork. We cannot control the way our minds function, thus, creativity without emotion will not always exist.

Bibliography

Frijda, Nico H. (1986). The Emotions. Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and Cambridge University Press

Amabile, T.M. (1996). Creativity in context. Westview Press.

Marketing strategies. Synthesis. (c) 2004 Synthesis Creative Inc http://www.synthesiscreative.com/index.php