So, the World Economic Forum (yes, that World Economic Forum) has declared creative thinking a top job skill. Apparently, alongside problem-solving (which mostly involves Googling error messages) and leadership (telling people what to do), being able to conjure something novel is still valued. Who knew?
But isn’t AI supposed to be stealing all our jobs? Shouldn’t we be teaching robots to paint landscapes and write poetry? Well, not yet. According to some art teacher quoted by the Associated Press, AI lacks the secret sauce: emotion, experience, and intuition. Which, let’s be honest, sounds like a recipe for a mid-life crisis, not groundbreaking innovation.
This art teacher, Tara Holeman (who sounds suspiciously like someone out of a Philip K. Dick novel), teaches at Learn4Life, a network of high schools. She claims art classes unlock different parts of the brain, allowing students to access information and process visuals in new ways. This is great news for those of us who thought the only thing art class was good for was doodling in the margins of our textbooks.
Apparently, employers agree. Over 73% of organizations prioritize creative thinking in hiring. This suggests that businesses are finally realizing that hiring a team of automatons might not be the best strategy for long-term success. Who knew that a human with a pulse can do better than a calculator on legs, or that people with a human heart can make products to be used by fellow human beings?
The article goes on to lament the fact that art programs are often the first to get the axe when budgets get tight. This is a tragedy, of course. Where else are students supposed to learn how to express themselves through interpretive dance and finger painting? And let’s not forget the importance of learning how to sculpt clay ashtrays for Mother’s Day gifts.
Holeman also points out that some students are hesitant to take art because they think they lack talent. This is a common misconception. Art isn’t about being “talented”; it’s about experimenting, exploring, and making a glorious mess. Also, having a teacher with a very generous marking style can go a long way. The teacher shares a story of a student who overcame her initial timidity to win awards at the Fresno State Fair. Good for her, I say. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to attempt a self-portrait. Wish me luck. (I’ll need it.)
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