“Hi there all you artistic folk, it’s me, Julia, part of
that highly schizophrenic art-technology pairing known as Julia and Paul.
“Today I have with me two European Commissioners who will say
something about this thing called the nexus of art and science.
“So Commissioner Modas, what would you like to say about
this topic?”
“Yes, thank you Julia. Let me first say that it is a great
please to be here with you today. I think that more and more we all understand
that innovation in the future will be on the intersection of arts and sciences.”
“Great. Now how did you come to such a conclusion?”
“Scriptwriter! Where’s my scriptwriter?”
“Well Commissioner while you and your scriptwriter are being
creative and trying to find an innovative answer to this simple question, we’ll
move on to Commissioner Oettinger. What would you like to contribute to this
fascinating discussion?”
“I too would like to say that it is a great pleasure to be
here with you today. Artistic creativity and critical thinking are essential
for innovation in today's digital world. Already, highly innovative
companies like Mercedes thrive on a strong link between artists and their
engineers. The EU will support [such] multidisciplinary themes in H2020.”
“Well said Commissioner. Did you know that in the medieval
period the Roman Catholic Church also thrived on a strong link with artists? The Communist state in the Soviet Union also
thrived on the very strong and rigid links that it forged with artists. So
clearly, thriving on strong links with artists can mean many things. It seems that the
European Commission is also forging strong links with artists too! Are they
also rigid as well? But while you are pondering on these questions, I‘m glad
you mentioned Mercedes, because we just happen to have here a representative
from Mercedes Finance in the United
States . Please tell us something about the
strong links you have forged with the art world.”
“Indeed Julia I would be very glad to do so. We work with an
art gallery where our employees view masterpieces by artists such as Diego
Rivera, Rembrandt and Picasso. A trained facilitator then asks for their
impressions during post-viewing meetings. During the debriefing session, we
touch on how art applies to business and think about how employees can make use
of more creativity at work and offer different solutions to our customers. Participants
engage in collaborative discussion and offer answers to messages suggested by
the art they view. However, to ask employees to completely connect the art
experience to their jobs is forcing it too far. Nevertheless, a business-art
relationship offers many advantages. It’s about cognitive diversity. The way
people think is based on where they come from. Art reflects the diversity of
the world, the workplace and the people in it.”
“So, looks much as though this is just a more sophisticated
form of corporate sponsorship of the arts, primarily designed for the purposes
of image making – your image! If it is the case that your employees are not
sufficiently creative at work, were there no thoughts in your mind that there
might be problems with your internal organisational design, or with the company
culture, or with employee tasks and roles, or the way they are treated and
rewarded, or with the attitude that prevails among middle and senior
management? Or are you in need of a visit to the art gallery before you are
able to have such thoughts?
“So there you have it – employees with a creativity deficit!
The ideology of creativity – founded on an imaginary deficit.
“And I see that the European Commissioners and the Mercedes’
representative have left us. No doubt to reflect upon what they have learned
here today. Or perhaps not! They are after all puppeteers … And men!
“Coming soon – more about the Ideology of Creativity. And I
will be asking questions about this company called Mercedes and exploring
just what they have been doing with artists – more image making! Literally!
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