Creativity in Art and Science

Instructor: Professor Kay Etheridge
                Department of Biology

Creative artists and scientists change how we view the world. The process by which inner experiences are articulated in response to external stimuli is similar in both groups, but is expressed in different forms. When a painter successfully introduces a new style, or a scientist makes a revolutionary discovery, our perception of reality evolves. J.M.W. Turner was important in introducing a romantic view of nature; Charles Darwin changed how humans view their place in nature. Darwin made careful observations of living organisms, fossils, and their distribution around the world. From his observations, experimentation, and extensive reading, he developed the theory of evolution. Turner studied light and experimented with it extensively in his landscapes, producing paintings that would influence a generation of impressionists. In this course we will examine the process of creation and the factors that can set it in motion. We will use a variety of resources to learn about the works of creative artists and scientists from the Renaissance to the 20th century; discover how the life and times of each of these people may have set the stage for the creative process to come to fruition; and understand how creativity must be seen in the context of a given time and place.