Nature's Stimulation

     In the article "Is Creativity Endangered?" multiple authors discuss and debate whether both the prevalence and quality of creativity is declining. In a society where education has been confined to standardized bubble tests, increasing technological use, and confined classrooms, many argue that creativity is being suppressed and slowly disappearing from the students with every new generation. Author Richard Louv is on the other end of the spectrum of those ranting of the decaying and dying creativity within the young generation as he believes the 21st century is the beginnings of the blossoming of creativity. In an era racing with technology and its troubles, the people are faced with new challenges to deal with. Louv argues that as environmental problems are becoming more stressed, so are the people's attempts to reconnect with the environment and Mother Nature. Although nature is argued to improve cognition and creativity skills, surely a jungle or forest can not be planted in any near time. Instead, with all the resources technology and progress has provided, responsibilities of the populations include more nature and botany within the urban landscape. Establishment of more biodiversity fused with architecture or increasing small gardens within homes can and will help booster creative thinking.
     I agree with Louv in that the end of creativity is not coming anytime soon. Although our society has surged in its use and obsession with technology, we have also surged in the care not for our welfare, but for the Earth's In previous centuries, our desire to expand our land has led to countless destruction of environments as focus lied only with domestic problems, but now, our worries have become both environmental and international. In our efforts to save the environment, we have accepted the challenge of creating and formulating new ways to contribute to our environment's preservation, bolstering our own creativity. This method of using creativity to overcome challenges, as highlighted by Louv, can be applied on a political and technological standpoint as well. Also, in the new technological landscape, we have more resources to put our creativity into use. All in all, I agree with Louv in that creativity is not dying, but growing, albeit rather slowly. Technological advancements have been restricting many aspects of our creativity, but it has also sponsored the opening of new windows to creativity.


--- Hamilton Nguyen