School of Social and Political Science

Description

The notions of “originality” and “creativity” have long been central to the Western art historical discourse, often serving as primary criteria for evaluating artistic merit. However, as we broaden our perspective to encompass a wider spectrum of artistic practices, the universality of these concepts becomes increasingly questionable. From sculptural and textile arts that emphasize craftsmanship and inherited techniques, to performative arts like dance and singing that foreground bodily skills; from the modular logic of East Asian artistic production to exploration of archetypal forms in Islamic visual traditions; from countercultural DIY practices in 1970s to contemporary digital self-expression in social media—we find that the implications of originality and creativity become more complex across different art forms, geographical regions, and historical periods.

The conference “Originality and Creativity in Everyday Arts” brings together postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) students to examine these phenomena through sociological frameworks. By creating a dialogue space for various theoretical approaches and empirical investigations, we aim to unpack how creativity and originality are socially constructed, culturally directed, institutionally maintained, and practically negotiated in different contexts. Through these discussions, we hope to contribute to ongoing sociological debates about artistic production and creativity in contemporary society and understand how notions of originality and creativity intersect with broader social structures, cultural hierarchies, and power dynamics.

Prof Kat Jungnickel from Goldsmiths, University of London will deliver a keynote speech at the end of this event. More details will be published at a later stage.