Creativity

In my opinion, creativity is defined as the ability to produce new and unique ideas to solve problems or challenges that arise in our dynamic existence.  New media fosters creativity by providing a fresh set of tools that are more easily accessible to the masses as a result of the advances made in technology.  The always on availability of information on the Internet and our own curious nature are a natural recipe for new creative outlets.

Before YouTube, only people with the means and the budget could produce a film which they could have screened.  Now, thanks to sites like YouTube, all one needs is a camera and a computer on which to edit and upload their creation. In May 2010, the YouTube team announced that YouTube surpassed two billion video views daily and that there were then more that 24 hours worth of video uploaded every minute.  With it's past gowth rate, one would have to surmise those numbers have furthered increased in the past year.  This goes to show that people are exploring and sharing their creations in a way that did not exist before 2005!

Virtual worlds like Second Life promote creativity as well.  Here users are free to discover their creativity by creating all new alter egos for themselves and creating new environments.  Without the restrictions of the physical world, users can freely explore new ideas and views that they would not be able to otherwise.

The increased availability of technology and information that is driving new media has led to creative new ways of making or remixing music.  This has led to a whole new genre of 'mash-ups' which highlight a whole new outlet for creativity.  This mixing of songs, video, and images is only possible thanks to the nature of the Internet and the information age.  Spawning from this new age we now live in is a greater opportunity to share one's creations without having to "sell-out" or compromise one's vision.  This is stated best by Mark Vidler, as quoted in Sasha Frere-Jones article 1+1+1+1=1 The new math of mashups: "You don't need a distributor, because your distribution is the Internet.  You don't need a record label, because it's your bedroom, and you don't need a recording studio, because that's your computer, You do it all yourself."