Amy,
it was a woman and I am not sure what she meant either. She subsequently talked about examples you gave (if you are writing a novel set in x, research that), but I feel even that is too narrow a definition of research.
I'm reminded by the lead singer of Smash Mouth who claimed he didn't listen to other pop music and just "created' the songs. But if you listen to their songs, they are reminiscent of 1960s & 1970s music. Part of creativity, it seems to me, is learning what has been done before - no matter your field or discipline.
Well, art and music aren't "real" disciplines, so obviously the rules are lax. Also, artists shouldn't expect to get paid or valued as highly as any other professions.
I do think the creative process can be largely sub-/unconscious, and people can "just do stuff" without being aware of all the influences that are affecting their work.
Matt,
I agree with you, but I think that's the role of higher education: to make the implicit explicit. If we (as faculty) aren't here in part to do that, then why the fuck do I have this job?
What we do in the classroom are a series of intellectual exercises - as well as creative.
I wore black trousers and a black-and-white striped shirt, both things I already had, to my mother's funeral. After the funeral, I threw the shirt away.
There would have been enough time between Mom's death and the funeral to go shopping (she died on the Friday night of Labor Day... so not a great weekend for malls and such) but my body image demons were way way too loud, so black trousers and a black shirt and a very nice black and white blazer it was.
I had six meetings today. My brain hurts, you guys.
I'm reminded by the lead singer of Smash Mouth who claimed he didn't listen to other pop music and just "created' the songs. But if you listen to their songs, they are reminiscent of 1960s & 1970s music.
Yeah, that's a ridiculous claim. The singer might be an actual ignoramus but the keyboard player who sampled the Moog synthesizer from an early 70s track for "Walking On The Sun" certainly listened to earlier music. Plus they fucking covered the Monkees "I'm a Believer" and girl group staple "Can't Seem To Make You Mine." Not to mention being a ska influenced band originally.
right? I couldn't believe it.
