Productivity: The Devolution of Creativity

Throughout history, we've witness an incredible collection of art, stories, oral traditions, and texts that help us understand how people lived, what drove them, and how they thrived in their communities. These things are key to seeing the world through someone else's eyes, to understanding what made them tick. But what we don’t often consider is how society (especially corporate and capitalistic interests) work to devalue these forms of expression and creativity. And like most abuses of power, this is no accident; it's intentional.

For example, I studied Politics and Government at university, I dove into political theory, sociology, and philosophy. A few weeks ago, in an ethics post, I talked about virtues and how they shaped people's lives and philosophies. Greek philosophy is one example that I think is both valuable and flawed. Sure, there's sexism, classism, and a lot more that I won’t get into here, but there are still important lessons learned. The emphasis on teaching, thinking critically, and working for the common good is something that I think we could all benefit from. We should absolutely hold on to the good stuff and apply it to today. (Granted...this common good was largely established by white men).

I remember being in school, learning about oral traditions from other cultures and how people passed down stories and wisdom, and why that was so important. Native America, Africa, South America and more. These traditions felt so much more authentic than the history books we were given. And sure, both history books and oral traditions have biases, but when you look at history through the lens of lived experiences, it paints a much clearer picture. We are our experiences. And lived experiences add empathy to history. It’s easy to read in a textbook that "Columbus found America," but hearing from a Native person whose ancestors were killed, whose families were decimated by smallpox - that’s a different kind of history. It’s not "whitewashed," it’s real.

Now, back to creativity...

We’ve seen since the beginning of recorded human history that creativity has been essential. Even as hunter-gatherers, it wasn’t all about just finding food and shelter. There was a lot of room for expression, for leisure, for the creative drive that helped form early societies. When we moved into farming and more sedentary lives, something was lost. Farming gave us stability, sure, but it also brought monotony. The freedom of movement, of seeing new things every day like the hunter-gatherers, sparked creativity. With the more stationary lives we led through farming, that kind of creativity became harder to sustain. The upkeep of crops and shelters took time time that could’ve been used to let the mind wander and dream.

Creativity, in any form, is essential because it allows us to express what we can’t always say with words. We’ve all felt that through art, music, writing and more. These things tap into emotions that are not always expressible across the board. I used to think the arts were really valued, especially when I was younger. But over time, I started to realize that a lot of the artists we admire today were from privileged backgrounds. Philosophers, artists, musicians—they were often from wealthy families who had the time, money, and access to resources to develop their talents. It's easier to be creative when you can afford to be. It’s easier to promote your work when you have connections. And it's heartbreaking to think about how much potential creativity is stifled by a system that forces people into survival mode instead of allowing them the time to create.

We live in a world where art and creativity are too often seen as a "waste of time" or not real "success" in a society obsessed with productivity. We’re told we need to be constantly working, constantly improving, to make money, get fit, check things off the endless list of "successes." I remember in high school, when I told my art teacher I wanted to teach art, she immediately shut it down, warning that I’d be making a huge mistake because it didn’t pay enough. So, I kept going, worked towards a degree in Politics and Language & Culture, thinking it would be more practical. But I soon realized I wasn’t cut out for politics. I didn’t fit into a world where sucking up and playing the game was the key to success.

Instead, I ended up in the corporate world. It paid the bills, but it wasn’t fulfilling. After a while, everything just felt like a lie. Seeing how marketing and algorithms worked made me mentally check out. I’m still trying to find something that feels real, something that isn’t so soul-crushing, but let’s be honest - living in one of the most expensive states in the U.S. means I’ve got to pay the bills somehow.

But even with all that, I still have the skills I want to pursue within realms like web design, photoshop, illustration, rock cutting/polishing and more. But to really dive into that, I need money saved up and the full confidence to market myself. Truthfully, sometimes I feel like a fraud for wanting to pursue creativity when I’m stuck in a world that tells me I need to be constantly productive, constantly on. I know it’s not "fake" as I have skills that could help me get there and I have been commissioned before. But it’s hard to make that leap after years of working in corporate spaces. The struggle to balance creativity with financial reality is real, especially when art and creativity bring so much more to society than just lining CEOs’ pockets.

It’s disheartening to see how society has brainwashed us into thinking creativity doesn’t matter. But this goes back to the core issue: self-expression, through art, is a threat to those in power. Think about it: so many influential artists (musicians, painters, sculptors, e.g.) came from a place of struggle, political strife, or personal hardship. But as they became more famous, many of them found themselves co-opted by the systems they once critiqued. Take artists like Andy Warhol, Diego Rivera, Keith Haring, and Frida Kahlo. They all started by critiquing consumerism, political disparity, and social injustice. While it's not exactly accurate to say they were "paid off" by the government, the financial rewards they received allowed them to ease into a more comfortable, commercialized space. And when you’re sitting on a pile of money, it’s easy to forget the struggles of the people you were once speaking up for.

The result? Wealthy families now create art that often lacks substance but is still sold for huge sums. This cycle further consolidates control over art and creativity in the hands of the elite, who already control most of the wealth and influence. Art becomes an asset, a tool for beautifying their world while further separating themselves from the real, meaningful work of creativity. And all the while, the rest of us are stuck working multiple jobs just to survive, with no time to develop the creative skills we long to explore. Another factor is the price of resources. Whether it be paint, pencils, classes, or who you know - creativity requires these things which are more accessible to the wealthy. Creativity is often a capitalistic tool. Some even say it can be a way to launder money (who knows, I am not a money-doctor). Art has become a product versus a means to feel and express personal values.

But what happens when we start to value creativity again? When we prioritize it and understand that our value isn’t determined by how much money we make or how "productive" we are in a capitalist sense? How can we succeed when success is always defined by those who already have it all? This isn’t just about personal fulfillment, it's about reclaiming a space for creativity to be what it truly is: a means of expression, connection, and change. It’s a fight against the system that tells us we’re lazy if we don’t keep producing, while the very things we value most are being hoarded by those who already have it all.

A point to drive it home, is how important it is that we let go of individualism in a communal sense. We can all create and express ourselves to a personal extent, but the lack of creation and expression in society has a connection to mental health. Our brains will not be happy if we don’t share experiences, learn from each other, and simply feel others' presence to help motivate and inspire us. Trying to establish ‘time’ to be creative adds a sense of pressure that can lead to things like depression, burnout, or imposter syndrome. Yes - it’s important to exercise, eat well, go to work, pay your bills, watch a tv show or two (to decompress and or have things to talk about when in society) but we only have 24 hours in a day and growth is not exponential. We must take time to realize this ‘end goal’ isn't achievable and we need to express and grow on the inside to feel true fulfillment.

Happy Fri-yay.

PS: A lot of this comes from a "white" perspective because, well, that’s what I have experienced personally. But I’d love to hear from others with different perspectives or experiences. Feel free to share your thoughts and how things have changed for you.

PPS: paint nights are very fun! don't always work out so well but it really shows perception of the individual being told 'process' and not mimicry