Sit still and stop exhibiting flashes of genius, kid.
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This site is a little project that lets me make fun of some things and sense of others. I use it to think a little more relationally without resorting to doing actual math.

You, too can earn a living with visuals.
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June 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
C = Medical School Students
June 10th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
C = CEO’s of Major Motion Picture Companies
June 10th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
C = blog commenters
June 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Paul’s comment = brilliant!
As someone who works in the field of arts education, I think I know what this image is trying to depict, yet have to disagree to some degree. First, I’m not sure if it’s positing creativity vs. education, as I don’t think the two are always in conflict (bad education can definitely extinguish creativity).
And while I agree that to maintain creativity, one must foster a sense of risk taking and wonder, I’m not sure those ideas are synonymous with innocence.
June 10th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Wait… Jessica Hagy?
Don’t suppose you graduated from Ohio U?
June 10th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
It’s not that creativity and education are exclusive, but more so that through the process of education, kids are also educated as to what doesn’t work - which leads to the jaded effect and a decrease in creativity. Seems that only a small number - either the truly brilliant or extremely lucky - make it to the top of the pyramid.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:57 am
As both a former high school teacher and a current certified youth fitness specialist, I’ve seen firsthand a LOT of truth in the above comparison. I won’t say it’s 100% true 100% of the time, but by and large, it’s spot-on. Creativity can be fostered alongside education, but it’s certainly a rarity these days as schools are more worried about teaching to the standardized tests that will determine their financial (and employment) future.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Thanks for the great post Jessica, you’re my favorite belligerent creative genius!
June 11th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
A = compliant/maleable
and of course there is a small percentage who start off bloody minded! Not much creativity there!
For the vast majority though, you’re dead right.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Bingo!
The qualities that you often try to suppress in your kids are the very ones that will serve them well as adults.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am
The way I first read this I saw them not as education going up with creativity going down. I saw it as in some fields the more educated people become the least carefree they are, and with art the more they learn how to do things the more they become wild and creative and carefree.
Young artists unsure of what they’re doing can be surly and easily frustrated along with having an idea that they know everything about art, but as they learn more and are able to do more they’re happier and able to express themselves more freely and if they don’t become innocent they still certainly better learn how to take joy in simple things.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
C = 15% of sixth graders who won’t work but could do the work if they wanted to
June 16th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
C = 15% of sixth graders who won’t do the work because they can see that it is stupid and senseless!
June 20th, 2009 at 10:34 am
[...] you think this is loosely about [...]