Category Archives: On Creativity

White Paper: When Beloved Works Are Rejected: Authors, Audiences, and the Tension of Reception

Abstract Many artists face the paradox of finding their most personally meaningful works dismissed, misunderstood, or rejected by their audiences. This white paper examines this phenomenon through two case studies: Budd Schulberg’s What Makes Sammy Run?—which portrays the disillusionment of … Continue reading

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White Paper: The Two Trees and the Rhetoric of Familiarity: Contrasting Strategies in Religious Communication

Executive Summary Religious communication often navigates a paradox: audiences hunger for both novelty and continuity. The biblical imagery of the two trees in Eden—the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—provides fertile ground for … Continue reading

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White Paper: Gatekeepers of Innovation: The Historical Role of Those Who Normalize Outsider Genres and Groundbreaking Ideas

Abstract Throughout history, groundbreaking innovations and outsider genres have rarely been embraced directly by the mainstream. Instead, they first emerge in marginalized, experimental, or niche contexts. What determines whether such movements remain underground or become transformative is often the presence … Continue reading

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White Paper: Dream Geography: The Significance of Known vs. Imaginary Places in Human Dreams

Executive Summary Human dreams vary not only in content but also in geography. Some individuals report dreaming exclusively of places they have physically visited, while others frequently dream of landscapes that are wholly unfamiliar or fantastical. This distinction highlights deeper … Continue reading

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On Work And Suffering

It has always bothered me that artists are expected to suffer for their art. This is only partly due to the fact that I am a person who has always been deeply involved in the creative arts, especially as they … Continue reading

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25 Or 6 To 4

In 1986, the band Chicago found themselves at a bit of a crossroads as a band. Their lead singer, whose songwriting and drive had allowed them to have a couple of massive hit albums in the first half of the … Continue reading

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Places That Are Good To Write In

One of the concerns that creative people have is what areas are good to write in.  Some people find themselves able to write in unusual circumstances.  Surprisingly enough, as it may seem, jail has been a found of creativity for … Continue reading

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A Bad Idea Is Better Than No Idea At All

Ideas are important matters, and the absence of creativity and originality is an aspect of life that demonstrates the tiredness of so many of those people who should be leading our arts and business. For those who are attentive to … Continue reading

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No Soul Is Ever Truly Free

Recently, freelance sports commentator Pat McAfee, who had previously had a long and successful career as a football player in the NFL before becoming a popular independent sportscaster, accepted a large deal to join ESPN sports. This move has attracted … Continue reading

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Can’t Take A Verdict

Over the last few weeks there has been a lengthy trial for two counts of murder that pitted a disgraced aristocratic South Carolina attorney against the bloviating forces of the state, with the result that the accused was convicted of … Continue reading

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