| 034 |
December |
Dementia
and Creativity
Dementia is the name given to symptoms of confusion and memory loss which
result from many conditions which effect and gradually destroy the brain,
the most common being Alzheimer's. Dementia is not a disease in itself.
Many of those who have, or are close to someone with dementia, experience
a journey into darkness with little that is positive to offset their sense
of profound loss. There is however one area of hope that is a powerful
force that transforms the perception and experience of those with dementia:
the phoenix of creativity. |
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| 033 |
November |
Girls,
Software, and Gaming
Despite the efforts of the gaming industry and the desire from a large
constituency who feel girls might play more software games if only more
titles were targeted towards their interests, it seems that most girls
simply aren't interested in playing with software. I ponder on the issues
surrounding this perhaps contentious statement. |
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| 032 |
October |
Ethics
and Creativity
There are times when creative professionals may be asked to work in an
area that is in conflict with their conscience, when the work we do may
in some way directly or indirectly support activities or businesses we
would otherwise choose not to be associated with. This column is devoted
to a scenario that touches on some of the issues surrounding this ethical
dimension of offering creative services, and the actions that might be
contemplated. |
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| 031 |
September |
Inspire
Me
You're looking for the spark that fires your excitement. You desire inspiration,
a place to begin, a place that will keep you burning through the early
hours, a drive that will not let you rest until the creative act is done... |
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| 030 |
August |
Finding
Balance
My greatest challenge is to find balance between the work I love to do
and the work I have to do. My difficulty in doing so is in common with
all those who find their lives driven by the practical needs of making
a living. There are periods when what is most important struggles to survive... |
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| 029 |
July |
Good
Art, Bad Art
Art surrounds us at every turn. Some we consider good, and much we consider
of no particular value. Can anyone produce art? What is 'good art'? |
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| 028 |
June |
No
Talent? No Problem
Intelligence is overrated almost as much as talent. Having either quality
is neither a recipe for achieving success or happiness, although both qualities
may bring economic gain. Unlocking talent, and achieving its potential
is only part of the broader picture of what goes to make a creative powerhouse... |
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| 027 |
May |
The
Purpose of Art
Considering the purpose of art is constructive if somewhat perplexing.
The more we think carefully about our chosen medium of expression, the
more we become capable of exploiting its power and potential... |
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| 026 |
April |
Emotion
and Creativity
Emotion is the engine that drives our actions. Being aware of the forces
emotions exert is an important part of the toolset the creative person
has at their disposal. How we feel, and how others feel about the products
of creativity should always be at the forefront of the creative act. |
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| 025 |
March |
A
thing of beauty
What makes an object, music, words, or a person, beautiful? Can a taste
or smell be beautiful? Can we touch 'beauty'? Here are my thoughts on how
we know that most difficult to contemplate, yet easily experienced quality
we call beauty. |
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| 024 |
February |
Sharing
Movies
At its heart, art is a social phenomenon. That is, someone makes something
and it is shared, either remotely by the 'author' and a 'reader', or with
others, like a trip to the movies. The products of our creativity might
be perceived of as luxuries by some, yet they are what defines us as a
species. |
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| 023 |
January |
In
the face of despair
On 26 December 2004 an earthquake occurred just off the coast of Indonesia.
The quake, the most powerful for 40 years, triggered a series of deadly
waves, which fanned out across the Indian Ocean. At least 200,000 people
in coastal areas from Somalia to Sumatra were killed and many millions
left destitute. |
