What is creativity actually?
By: Endo Perdana
Tags: Culture, Creativity, Indonesia, Language, Social Change

West's perspective on creativity is the activity that produces novelty or a breakthrough. This definition sets it apart from rituals or repetitive actions that resonate with no creativity. The religious root can also be seen to play a significant role in shaping the definition or perspective. In the beginning, God creates the world from nothingness. This phrase has a profound impact on those seeing creativity from a Western perspective especially in the modern world that engineers, programmers, or any professionals are in a race to invent something or at least perfecting others’ inventions in linear motion.

On the other hand, East which constitutes primarily Chinese teachings, characterizes creativity on the aspect of utility and respect for the tradition. Creative actions are aimed to preserve the traditions because Tao teaches that the universe has no beginning as well as no creator so there is ‘something’ and always will be. In contrast, the Eastern lens of creativity is not through invention but discovery.

Invention and discovery have the same translation in Bahasa Indonesia. They are translated as ‘penemuan’. This is where the issue arises. The word invention in the English language has a sense of novelty quality where something has been brought into existence or being. Discovery doesn’t necessarily contain novelty because it can be said that for example the ancient temple of Majapahit has been discovered (more or like unravel, shed a light on previously unknown).

What are the implications for Indonesian? Sociolinguists have long argued that language represents the society where social aspects of daily life are often pictured in a language. In this sense, language is created to express the ideas of society. We have at least, four different words to describes the stages of the rice from the plant to the rice we eat on the table. The plant is called padi. Then, once harvested, it becomes gabah. When the skin covering the grain is removed and ready to be cooked it will be called beras. Nasi is the final form of the rice when it is cooked.[1] Another example is that Eskimos have at least seven words to describe snows.

When Indonesian has no difference in the words of invention and discovery, we have generated confusion to differ the two. While respecting the tradition produces backlash to modernity which symbolizes enlightening and creativity, they have been in an endless war in Indonesian society. Most people treat them as if they are in an opposing direction where tradition seems to hamper the idea of progress and development. It is clear that this issue is varied in degree from one culture to another.[2]

The essential question is where should we place creative acts in the eye of Indonesian perspective? First, we do not exhibit or merely preserve the culture as symbols, rituals or artifacts. We have to become the living museum where values of a culture are incorporated deep in daily activities in how we interact with what seems strange be it other values, ideas, or people. Second, we shape the language as the language shapes us. This means that endless possibilities await those mindful of openness. This must not be placed in binary opposition manner like good or bad and black or white. Instead, curiosity and careful observation are the best tools to cultivate what benefits most for the society.

[1] We have another word for rice-based food such as bubur for porridge but this explanation is less relevant because the main focus here is to show different words for different stages of the rice plant. This also means to contrast the language where English only has one word for all the stages.

[2] Balinese is an ideal picturesque of harmony between the idea of tradition and creativity. Conflicts between ideas are indeed unavoidable but the backbone of Balinese is maintaining the balance. That is why besides its natural beauty, their tradition also practiced as the way of living attracting tourists across the globe.