Has Conformity Replaced Creativity?

[Nikki1989]

Updates

5 mo

I feel the fear of social rejection can discourage people from expressing unique ideas or taking creative risks, and can you see and hear this in all forms of art.

[NathanDavis]

I do feel like worse than the fear to rejection... might be the fear to being ignored, to going unnoticed

to being "skipped" if you just don't do whatever trendy trend is currently taking over

even when noticed for creating something different, more unique... the novelty will be short lived and people will just move so quick to the next new thing...

we no longer give ourselves the time and the chance to truly appreciate and enjoy

[ProbablyClueless]

Very much so! We have creativity beaten out of us by our educational system.

[Crimsyjo]

My mum thinks here in UK (and probably elsewhere) the government has deliberately being dumbing down kids through poor or selective education and wiping history as a means of creating a "worker ant" populace of people doing as they are told and not questioning it whilst the elite live in wealth and luxury overloading it all.

(She thinks this started with Tony Blair)

Make of that what you will... 🤷‍♀️

[Nikki1989]

That is a very valid criticism of the education systems and societal inequalities, and I am sure many would agree with it. However, far more are too willing to accept anything that is spoon-fed into their brains without giving it any real thought.

[Crimsyjo]

The question is - are people taught from a young age to not think for themselves? Is that killing creativity? My oldest daughter... she's extremely talented, artistic and creative. For her first project at uni everyone was asked to create a mask related to an animal. People stuck feathers on paper. My daughter made a whole dears head with horns that fit over your head.
When she was a child I stopped having tv. She had DVD programs but not mainstream tv. And I took her playgroups everyday sitting with her doing creative tasks. At 6 she made a 3D violin out of paper all of her own choosing.

[Nikki1989]

Social pressure to conform to societal norms can sometimes stifle individuality and critical thinking, which, I think, is happening right now to many children. Also, many parents discourage questioning and independent thinking.

[Crimsyjo]

Yes. It's definitely true people want obedience over questioning.
Also AI is another arrow in the minds of people being able to think. It's easy to get a AI to think for you now. I have a friend at work who gets it to do all her written work. And students too rely on it to write their essays. So critical thinking is a dying habit. Maybe that's why I like to come talk and debate here so much. With real people lol

[DryGermanGuy]

One would think so... :-D

[Jennz6]

I agree with you but what is the answer?

[Intheclouds00]

100% yes.