European inventory of
societal values of culture

Rudowicz - Creativity and culture

Rudowicz, E. (2003). Creativity and culture: A two way interaction. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 47(3): 273–290.

This article is of interest in that it represents an approach arguing that creative expression is a universal human phenomenon. It is considered to be firmly grounded in culture and to have its own profound impact on culture itself. The effects of culture on creativity are presented within an interactive model that, besides culture, also incorporates historical, societal, and individual factors. Different manifestations of the impact of culture on creativity are discussed and illustrated by empirical studies. They include: (1) conceptualisation of creativity on both the explicit and implicit levels; (2) attitudes towards creativity and values attached to creativity; (3) channelling creative endeavour through different domains of human activities; and (4) socialisation processes and educational goals and practices. Methodological dilemmas involved in cross-cultural studies of creativity are also discussed.