Imagination: Science and Creative Writing

One of the lecturers in our class discussed “Creative Writing in the Age of Computer”. In that meeting, creative writing was defined as invariably an explicit product of one’s autobiographical memory.  The lecturer said that creative writing was like weaving thread into which a very strong twist must be determined. He also emphasized that it cracking the right words in which one can express their story but make others relate. Also, he gave 5 necessary things to be able to engage in creative writing: 1.) mastery of form, 2) great emotional form, 3.) take the reader to a journey, 4.) groundbreaking, and 5.) x factor. And as he was discussing these five things, he also inserted how writing was like before. He told stories about typewriters and rewriting. This made me realize how convenient it is now to write. One can simply backspace/delete a misspelled word. Moreover, saving files and back-upping the stories would be much easier. Truly, the age of the computer had made it easier for writers to create, edit and share their works. 

In the middle of the discussion, I started thinking why was creative writing discussed in a Science, Technology and Society class. Then, I realized the main similarity between science and creative writing. That was the root word of creative, create. In both fields, its professionals would be encouraged to create something innovative and something relatable to other people. Furthermore, in both processes, imagination would be greatly needed. Scientists and writers would both need to open up their minds and explore things that would help themselves and inspire the society.

http://sites.psu.edu/reshmajblog/wp-content/uploads/sites/885/2013/04/spongebob-imagination.jpg

This question that popped into my mind made me search other articles finding similarities between artists and scientists. In one article, made by John Maeda (2013), he pointed out that there are more similarities between these two professions than differences. One of which was moving the society forward. Then, I thought of ways of how they do. Science would forward the society through its innovations, discoveries and inventions. Just think about the advance brought by the invention of the Internet, or even the wheel! On the other hand, people already witnessed how art, through literature, moved the society by awakening its members especially during revolutions. A perfect example of this would be our very own national hero's El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere. It had been discussed numerous times how did these two writings ignited the courage and hope in the hearts of Filipino people. Indeed, both writers and scientists could have a magnanimous impact on the society. Both professions could reflect the past, the present and the future of the society. 

Blog By: 

Gaea Isabel D. Trazo

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Reference: Maeda, J. (2013, July 11). Artists and scientists: More alike than different. Retrieved from http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2013/07/11/artists-and-scientists-more-alike-than-different/