Creativity is a huge waste of time and resources. The more ways I find to use it, the less efficient it becomes. Unfortunately, I have quite a lot of creativity, and it doesn’t take well to not being used.
What makes it inefficient? I would say the supplies. In order to use creativity, you need something to work with, and you generally get what you pay for. Most art forms revolve around esthetics in some way; cost depends on appearances. You can cut corners if it doesn’t affect the look, or if you don’t care if it’s inferior. Sometimes, though, there’s nothing for it but that perfect what-have-you that costs an excessive number of dollars. That, or you end up with something that’s NOT perfect.
Added to that is the time it takes to make art. It’s not instantaneous. It takes time. Usually a lot. Art in a matter of minutes is possible, but if it’s not what you do, it’s not what you do.
Since my current, all-consuming project is a dance piece, I’m going to use it as an example.
The first thing it needed was music. I was in a hurry, so that only took the above-mentioned few minutes to pick.
The second requirement was choreography, and the only things for that were practice and somewhere to do it. If I skip eating lunch, I can use the high school’s auditorium for about 50 minutes, for which I am immensely grateful. The main issue is that it’s the auditorium, meaning I can’t always have it. So far, I’ve put in about seven or eight days of practice, and the dance is still not perfected. I don’t have to pay for lessons, since the dance style is my own.
The last things are the ones that really cost money: costume, makeup and related items. I got the cheapest makeup I could find for about $50 or $60, all told. Some of it has 50 per cent off stickers. The costume was worse; $30for a tank top, anyone? It didn’t come with enough sparkles, so I’ve had to add them to it, as well as to the second-hand skirt I’ve altered. Again, that takes time. The term “related items” refers to my preferred prop choice: a six-foot bamboo baton with fabric flags. (I normally use a 10-foot pole; the short one is new.) The perfect fabric cost $7 dollars a flag, the tape covering the bamboo costs $4 per roll. The stick itself is a repurposed beanpole.
So, how long is the dance? Less than three and a half minutes.
Doesn’t sound worth it once you do the math, does it? If I was getting paid for it, I can’t imagine what I’d have to charge whoever hired me. All things considered, it makes one ask why I go through all that for a one-off. Why so much effort for a three-minute, single-showing performance?
I think it can be summarized with this: I’m an artist. It’s what I do; good reasons are optional. And it isn’t really only three minutes. For me, the entire process — from song selection to walking off the stage — is part of the whole piece of art. It wouldn’t be as much fun if it was easy and instant. In the case of the audience, the idea is to give them something that sticks after the show, even just getting the music stuck in their head. Also, I think I do it for the people who ask me after, “Doesn’t that make you dizzy?”
I haven’t a clue why not, but no, it doesn’t. And yes, it’s all totally worth it.
Hailey Viers is a Grade 10 student at Prince Charles Secondary School. The Teen Take is a column co-ordinated by the Teen Action Committee.