Wallas' model

I liked the breakdown of the creative process in Wallas' model: preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. How frustrating for creatives to be stuck in the incubation period for what Hughes claims may be "minutes to months to years". This validates why psychologists claim anxiety and tension are sometimes attributed to such processes prior to "breakthroughs". Could this be a correlation with Weil's claim that 3/4 of our real life is spent in imaginative phases? If we can deem creative thoughts as fictitious, at least until they come to fruition, then while they lie in this dormant state of incubation, certainly much time passes, as mentioned above. Hughes also refers to the tortured artist. If unable to transpose creative thoughts into finished products, especially in an idealized time frame, is it no wonder artists seem tortured? Pearce states, "Chaos is the underlying threat of the open system become self-conscious. "(144). While in the stage of incubation, if one allows the conscious to take over in an effort to resolve thoughts into a produced outcome, a muddled disarray is sure to ensue. Apparently, as reported by some artists, writers, and musicians in Hughes, creative thoughts may appear spontaneously, but must be left to the subconscious to work through to fruition.



I think the reference in Hughes to childhood perceptions being equated to ASC's is also significant. There is not much discrepancy between reality and fiction for children. They can easily accept any given information as being true. They are completely open-minded, that is until society's deemed truths and ideals are imposed and instilled upon them. This is what Pearce refers to as the lamb/fox metaphor. "There is a childlike quality in bringing the dream state through the crack to fruition. Such an inner state is balanced by a tough and resilient clarity of mind in the outer self. One is like a lamb to the inner spirit but like a fox to the outer world. This is the balance of mind." I believe both authors are suggesting we need to recall the innocence of childhood- not knowing consequences, ultimate truths, biases, and judgements. When we are able to achieve this kind of disposition in thinking, we can open ourselves to endless potential not only in creative processes but overall cognizance.