Evolution of the arts and creativity

I was inspired by these lovely photos on  Art Symphony's  blog post this morning showcasing the lovely portraits of musicians and the emotions and feelings shown in the  photographs which brought to mind hearing people in the 80's say there was no point creating real music anymore because a computer could do it all when synthesizers and computers where coming on 'the scene'. I'm delighted to see that 30 years later, people are still picking up instruments and are still creating music with their own hands, voices and hearts. I see it first hand as my 15 year old step son is inspired by his best friend to play bass guitar, and inspired by his friend's garage band to practice several times a week. I'm so glad those old predictions didn't come true, aren't you?

I suppose this is also true with other art forms too - some felt there was no need for drawing or painting because a computer could create art, but yet man is still inspired to create his own pieces. And once you start thinking about it, it goes past the 80's, all the way back to the industrial revolution doesn't it? We've had machines and equipment doing the work for us not just in music and in art but also for food, clothing etc. Just as people say 'why make bread at home when you can buy it at the store" or "why make your own socks when you can buy a pair for $2"  - many of us still have the burning desire to do it ourselves.

"I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity and they can be shaped by their user" ~ Bill Gates

"We need creativity in order to break free from the temporary structures that have been set up by a particular sequence of experience" ~ Edward de Bono