Art for Science’s Sake

         Science for Art’s Sake


Creativity, Cognition, and School Contexts

         Prof. Emeritus James S. Catterall
   UCLA Center for Culture, Brain, and Development

     Centers for Research on Creativity (CRoC)
     Cal Arts / University of the Arts, London UK
Creativity is in the air. We all want it. Our economies need it.

                          So what’s the next move?

We need a clearer discourse on creativity

Accumulated research is pessimistic
It spends too much time apologizing for poor measures

There is little explicit, sustained attention to creativity as we teach.
          Not in the arts
          And certainly not in the sciences and letters

And not enough knowledge of how to pursue this mission
         in the schools, and cross the lifespan.
Foundational studies in the arts
Research on academic and social effects
 of engagement in the arts

Research on Learning in the Arts; and how to
  assess artistic skills and expertise

Research on creativity and how to nurture
  creative skills and inclinations

Exploring the neuro-correlates of art creation
  and experience
Science and Structure

Scientists see their fields in structures, not as collections of
                              facts.

    Structure and Imagery lend themselves to creative
                 exploration in any field.

Einstein visualized, manipulated, and discovered – all in his
                           head.
Science and Play

Play, internal and community conversation,
                and learning.


      Associative “Art-Science” Thinking:
Understanding Creativity

 How to promote Creative skills
            and
    Creative dispositions
NEW
              Ideas


                                       VALUABLE
                                       or Productive
                        To the             Ideas
                      individual?
  On the
  planet?         To the
                Community
         In the
      Marketplace?
                                       To the       To the
                                     community    individual?
                         In the
                      Marketplace?


Creativity – a common definition; a process leading to
        New and Valuable Ideas and Products

    But…. NEW to whom, and Valuable to Whom?

A new thought to a child can drive a learning process.
Centers for Research on Creativity – 2011
    California Institute of the Arts – Prof J Catterall
University of the Arts, London UK – Prof Anne Bamford

 Our new institutional creation, launched in January,
                         2011
CRoC: Inquiry related to:




                                                      • .
  Assessing creative ideas and creative behavior
Nurturing creativity through instruction in the arts and
                        sciences
         Nurturing creativity in the workforce
  Key Assumption: sustained, explicit attention to
                        creativity
Implementation !!
 Science and Art,
 Teachers and
 Schools

Ideas are great:
Scaled-up action is a
  challenge.
A note on the book:



Doing Well and
Doing Good
By
Doing Art
“The Graduate,” 2011


Mr. Robinson: “Ben…Ben….
I have just one word for you:

     Neuroplasticity!

James Catterall Presentation - San Diego

  • 1.
    Art for Science’sSake Science for Art’s Sake Creativity, Cognition, and School Contexts Prof. Emeritus James S. Catterall UCLA Center for Culture, Brain, and Development Centers for Research on Creativity (CRoC) Cal Arts / University of the Arts, London UK
  • 2.
    Creativity is inthe air. We all want it. Our economies need it. So what’s the next move? We need a clearer discourse on creativity Accumulated research is pessimistic It spends too much time apologizing for poor measures There is little explicit, sustained attention to creativity as we teach. Not in the arts And certainly not in the sciences and letters And not enough knowledge of how to pursue this mission in the schools, and cross the lifespan.
  • 3.
    Foundational studies inthe arts Research on academic and social effects of engagement in the arts Research on Learning in the Arts; and how to assess artistic skills and expertise Research on creativity and how to nurture creative skills and inclinations Exploring the neuro-correlates of art creation and experience
  • 4.
    Science and Structure Scientistssee their fields in structures, not as collections of facts. Structure and Imagery lend themselves to creative exploration in any field. Einstein visualized, manipulated, and discovered – all in his head.
  • 5.
    Science and Play Play,internal and community conversation, and learning. Associative “Art-Science” Thinking:
  • 6.
    Understanding Creativity Howto promote Creative skills and Creative dispositions
  • 7.
    NEW Ideas VALUABLE or Productive To the Ideas individual? On the planet? To the Community In the Marketplace? To the To the community individual? In the Marketplace? Creativity – a common definition; a process leading to New and Valuable Ideas and Products But…. NEW to whom, and Valuable to Whom? A new thought to a child can drive a learning process.
  • 8.
    Centers for Researchon Creativity – 2011 California Institute of the Arts – Prof J Catterall University of the Arts, London UK – Prof Anne Bamford Our new institutional creation, launched in January, 2011
  • 9.
    CRoC: Inquiry relatedto: • . Assessing creative ideas and creative behavior Nurturing creativity through instruction in the arts and sciences Nurturing creativity in the workforce Key Assumption: sustained, explicit attention to creativity
  • 10.
    Implementation !! Scienceand Art, Teachers and Schools Ideas are great: Scaled-up action is a challenge.
  • 11.
    A note onthe book: Doing Well and Doing Good By Doing Art
  • 12.
    “The Graduate,” 2011 Mr.Robinson: “Ben…Ben…. I have just one word for you: Neuroplasticity!