As part of a (successful, I quietly have to add) competition entry that I sent off a few months ago and absent-mindedly forgot about, applicants were asked to describe what the future of creativity looked like to us, as young creatives. When I really start to think about it - given the current circumstances, where the future now feels like an untouchable, shimmering mirage - it is quite a difficult question to answer, never mind answer it in a way in which to stand out. But, when I received some good news and re-read what I had written back - it uplifted me from being intrenched in pessimism. So, I thought it'd be nice to at least try and share that feeling with others too - so, enjoy x
To me, I don't see a complete re-definition of creativity into a super high-tech and futuristic 3D world. Although, I don't doubt for a second that the prospect of seeing how we - as creatives - can utilise the advancements in digital technology to express ourselves and comment of the zeitgeist is exciting. But, I don't see it as domineering the future of creativity.
Instead, I see and feel diversity. Diversity that is so abundant that we longer have to prefix roles with the labels of 'Black', 'Gay', or 'Female', instead minorities can thrive without feeling 'Other'. Where tokenism is so obsolete that we can celebrate the beauty of everyone, rather than praising that it happened.
Where the next generation doesn't have to fret that pursuing their love of creativity is a "risk" because they don't have connections in the industry - the only connection they'll need is that to their hearts, and the hearts of others. A future where IT managers can instead retrain as ballet dancers.
A future where we can hear and boost the voices of those who aren't currently heard enough, in place of the voices who have always dominated our media. So much so, that our Instagram algorithms don't reinforce our comfortable, pre-existing views - but instead expands them.
This abundance of diversity and experiences will cultivate empathy beyond our creative fields, to society and politics. The arts' precious ability to hold a mirror up to ourselves and connect with our inner selves makes it the perfect soil in which to grow the seed of diversity, for it to bloom into a culture of understanding and breach the barriers of 'otherness'.
This future of equity is essential if we hope to innovate ourselves with our technology. Can we really advance in artificial intelligence unless we eradicate this plague of oppression and prejudice? How can we mould the thought process of artificial intelligence with the same hands which suffocate others? To allow the prejudices which belong to the past to be inherited by the technology and society of the future will hold us all in that past of harm.
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