Literature
Music
Personal
Conclusion
A common misconception about the arts is that in order to be completely creative, one must remove restrictions, rules, and defined structure. The fruits of creativity, some say, flow from inhibition. It was for this reason that the popular musicians of the 70's, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis
Joplin, and the Grateful Dead, participated in and influenced the "free" lifestyle. This brought rebellion to conformity and morality through casual sex and mind expanding drugs. This, they thought, would enable them to be more emotional, more loving, and bring forth their creative genius. As I have studied the history of civilization from the 1500's and on, many periods have surfaced where creativity and the arts have been demanded, and have flourished. Many of the masterpieces we have today are from these periods in time. Surely these artists were not the uninhibited, demoralized, popular artisans of today. Could their beautiful works of art, magnificent pieces of music, and most intriguing literary pieces have been done with self-imposed restrictions? I believe that restrictions can force one to be more creative than in an uninhibited situation. Come with me as I look at creativity in the areas of literature, music, as well as my personal life.