Creativity, the subject of November's cover story, is found in every nook and cranny of our society.

Creativity is for children. Isn’t that what many of us believe?

When I was in the process of choosing my college major, I wanted to go into a creative field. I wrote poetry, but didn’t think I could support myself as a poet. I created art, but wasn’t sure I wanted to be a starving artist. I loved typography and lettering, but didn’t think becoming a sign painter was the way to go.

I decided to be sensible and get a degree in business administration. I hated every minute of it, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. In the end, I knew I would be able get a job somewhere, make a living. I wasn’t clear on what or where that job would be, but it would be respectable and I would get a paycheck.

In my mind, and in the minds of those I knew, creativity seemed frivolous. It wasn’t something one did for one’s life’s work. Creativity and practicality were mutually exclusive – at least that’s the way it seemed back then.

Fast-forward a couple of decades and the culture has changed dramatically. Creativity – which is the subject of our cover story (“A Shared Value,” page 1) – is found in every nook and cranny of our society, from the blogs we create to the ring tones we choose for our cell phones. Our computers are now extensions of ourselves. On our desktops, laptops and mobile devices, we play, work, create, communicate and express ourselves. Technology – which is developed by some very creative people, by the way – has paved the way for everyday individuals to be creative like at no time before.

That’s why it’s not surprising that Vanderbilt would develop an initiative that acknowledges that creativity and practicality walk hand in hand. The Curb Program in Creative Enterprise and Public Leadership, which began this fall, features students who are participating in experiences that will help them see the world in a new light. They will look at practical problems with a creative eye and develop their entrepreneurial and leadership skills in tandem.

They’re not the only ones flexing their creative chops. Vanderbilt senior Ben Gotow (“Application Inspiration,” page 8) has created a smartphone application – an illustration program, no less – that has netted him more than $30,000. And he hasn’t even graduated yet. Applying his natural curiosity and desire to create something new to a practical field resulted in a very creative and satisfying result.

I finally gave up the practicality vs. creativity argument at age 30 when I ditched my desk job to become a writer. I still can’t believe how lucky I am to be able to do what I love – and get a paycheck for doing it. Putting together this issue was more fun than you can imagine. And the creative team that made it a reality – well, I can’t say enough about them. I will say that when you have photographers willing to drive an hour and don waders to photograph a fly fisherwoman in the rain (“The Last Word,” page 12), you know you’re working with good people.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we did creating it.

Joan Brasher
Editor in Chief, Vanderbilt View
view-editor@vanderbilt.edu

Posted 11/01/09