Dancing the Dance of Genius

I imagine that people who write, and other people who are called artists, wrestle with the idea of genius, creativity and linking themselves somehow to both.  Often creative people are called geniuses, but what does that mean, really? 

In an effort to praise, we call someone a genius. Quickly we judge their efforts, especially in relation to what other artists of a similar bent have produced.  We judge and criticize, develop expectations, often wait expectantly for more art to come.  We voice our disappointment and dismay when efforts are not magnificent, and we deem a person who has spoken to us through their art a creative genius. 

We also hesitantly admire an artist's nearness to the limit of sanity, their potential for insanity, but we, by contrast, feel relieved not to be quite that artistic and possibly insane.  So, we seem to both fear and admire creativity. 

I listened to a recorded talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, on the TED website last night and was intrigued with her approach to the subject of genius and creativity (weblink posted below).  Since she has written in obscurity and now has been lauded worldwide for her wildly popular top-selling book, she is uniquely qualified to comment on what constitutes a creative effort and the possibility of genius.  

Creative people often are burdened with the expectation that they are a genius.   She contends that we all "have a genius with us," not that we are actually The Genius.  The shift in thinking relieves her - and me as I think about it - of an unhealthy self-expectation that creative people are god-like.  Instead, we can be human beings who work hard at developing skills.  Perhaps once in a we while feel the power of transformative energy in our work, giving form to it and revealing truths and meaning.  We recognize in those moments that we were not really the genius but were the tool through which genius flowed. 

There is a funny little saying, "If you want to see God laugh, tell him/her you have a plan."  Artists would tell you, each one of them, that you never can plan to write the next World's Greatest Novel or compose the Most Wonderful Song, but that it just happens.  Developing the skills and having the shoes to dance the dance of the genius when it decides to flow is our work.  Being open, prepared, ready for the moment is what being "creative" means. 

Watch the recorded talk.  It takes about 18 minutes.  See what you think. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html