Have you heard about the Cultural Creatives?
All my life I have felt a bit out of place, like the shoe doesn’t totally fit, and lately (really, over the last several years) added to that I’ve been feeling a bit of malaise where my creative spark used to be, a lack of inspiration. It feels like a rub, a chafing, a bit of discomfort. A perfect time to contemplate some of the larger questions in my life. Chafing is perfect for that, isn’t it?
Don’t get me wrong, I will always LOVE creating a home, for others and for myself. I love being of service in my business and in my personal life. But in the big picture, something feels like it’s missing!
In this period of transition that our world is in I feel that there needs to be something more, something bigger then ourselves to contribute, provide, give back. Something beyond what I’ve always done… something…just…more. AND, I’ve felt an internal pressure that it needs to be done NOW!
My creative spark, image vial censemaking
The one feeling I’ve been able to identify is a deep need to “use less, give more” in all aspects of life. A need for sustainability on every level, from health, to money, to food, to our homes. I’ve been feeling an inner need to “step up to the plate” so to speak, yet I’m not completely sure what that plate looks like.
Recently, through a friend on Facebook I came across the movie, Cultural Creatives. Initially published as a book in 2000, The Cultural Creatives is written by by sociologist Paul H. Ray and psychologist Sherry Ruth Anderson.
Frigyes Fogel, is the project founder for the movie, with interviews of the authors of the book as well as groups all over the world who are deeply involved in this movement! Fogel writes that making the movie changed his life, and I can tell you that watching it has changed mine! Here are some of the premises of a Cultural Creative person as defined on Wikipedia and in the movie:
Ray and Anderson divide Cultural Creatives into two subdivisions: Core Cultural Creatives Just under half of the CC population, this segment comprises the more educated, leading-edge thinkers. This group includes many writers, artists, musicians, psychotherapists, feminists, alternative health care providers and other professionals. They combine a serious focus on their spirituality with a strong passion for social activism.
the make up of a Cultural Creative-image via Creative Arlington
Green Cultural Creatives The more secular and extroverted wing of the Cultural Creatives. They tend to follow the opinions of the Core group and have a more conventional religious outlook. Their world views are less thought out than the Core group and less intensely held. Characteristics Ray and Anderson created a questionnaire to identify Cultural Creatives in Western society. The below characteristics were identified as qualities of a Cultural Creative. Agreement with 10 or more indicates status as a Cultural Creative.
- love of nature and deep caring about its preservation, and its natural balance.
- strong awareness of the planet-wide issues (i.e. climate change, poverty etc.) and a desire to see more action on them
We are all one-globally! image via delta education
- being active themselves as well (e.g. cradle2cradle principle)
- willingness to pay higher taxes or spend more money for goods if that money went to improving the environment
- heavy emphasis on the importance of developing and maintaining relationships
- heavy emphasis on the importance of helping others and developing their unique gifts
- volunteer with one or more good causes
- intense interest in spiritual and psychological development
- see spirituality as an important aspect of life, but worry about religious fundamentalism
- desire equality for women/men in business, life and politics
- concern and support of the wellbeing of all women and children
- want politics and government to spend more money on education, community programs and the support of a more ecologically sustainable future
- are unhappy with the left and right in politics
- optimism towards the future
- want to be involved in creating a new and better way of life
- are concerned with big business and the means they use to generate profits, including destroying the environment and exploiting poorer countries
- unlikely to overspend or be in heavy debt
- dislike the emphasis of modern cultures on “making it” and “success”, on consuming and making money
- like people, places and things that are different or exotic
Values Ray and Anderson assert that “values are the best single predictor of real behavior”. The list below outlines the values that dictate a Cultural Creative’s behavior:
- Authenticity, actions must be consistent with words and beliefs
- Engaged action and whole process learning; seeing the world as interwoven and connected
- Idealism and activism
- Globalism and ecology
- The importance of women
- Core Cultural Creatives also value altruism, self-actualization, and spirituality.
Spirit…I do not have the original source if anyone know, please let me know!
In business The 2008 marketing text, Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs, by Ron Rentel, was the first to identify the Cultural Creative subculture in entrepreneurship. Rentel named entrepreneurial Cultural Creatives “innerpreneurs”. Innerpreneurs have the defining characteristics of an entrepreneur:
- high need for achievement
- high need for independence
- low need for conformity
- internal focus of control
- love of ambiguity
- propensity for risk-taking
- obsession with opportunity
But while entrepreneurs use their business for monetary gain, innerpreneurs use their business to find personal fulfillment (creatively, spiritually, emotionally) and create social change. I highly recommend watching the movie. You can download it if you help them promote it, either through a donation (as minimal as 1 euro) or by plugging their widget onto your website and telling others about it (you can see the widget on the right hand side of my site, that vertical blue box). Simple, and I say…worth it. It may change your life too!
So now you know a bit about Cultural Creatives. Next week in Part 2, I’ll put down some of my thoughts as to what this means in the housing industry…from construction, to decorating to living in your home. I must say…I’m excited all over again, truly. Are you?
Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll watch the movie. I’d love to hear what you think of it! And…please, click “like” below and share this with everyone you know.
Also, follow the group on Facebook and on Twitter. We need to change this culture from a whisper in to a global roar! Cultural Creatives are a little bit of beauty™ for sure, don’t you think?
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20 Comments
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That is fascinating, Irene! I want to watch this, and I know some other like minded people who would be interested as well. I am sharing your post!
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Author
Thanks Terri. Please, by all means share it…Let’s create that global conversation
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Awesome review about an awesome film! It goes to show: there is hope! 🙂
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Yes Orsi, don’t loose that hope and please spread this to all you know. It’s time to take this from a quiet whisper to a global roar!
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By the way it is me (with my real name Orsi) Doli (which is my Native Indian name – on FB). 🙂 Just so you know, there is a webpage that Frici has been working on to build around this topic. http://culturalcreatives.cc/ If you scroll down below the video, you will see different options. Everyone who is feeling ‘Culturally Creative’ can share stories and ideas, so we can begin to feel more like a community, helping each other from around the world. 🙂 Feel free to register or let other CC business know! 🙂 The English version is still at its infancy as it is quite a bit of challenge to manage both versions (for local and international audience). So glad to have you on board! 🙂
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Ahhhhhhhh, well hello Doli! lol, was an old Am. movie, never mind! I am a fan on FB and on twitter, am spreading everywhere I can!
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You are Godsent! Thank you!
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OOOOOOOOK, Irene. This is what I’m TALK”IN about. What about a blog soley devoted to THIS!
No dis intended at all to B. of Beauty…also valuable…but boy, how about inspiring/rooting out more cultural creatives…even in your local community. I’ll call u this weekend. Thank you thank you for your latest blog subject. XXOO me-
Ahhhhh Ms. Hilton, there definitely is a change in direction but based around our housing industry. It may start with Ron and I as I tell the story of our down sizing…Still playing out
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I didnt know of the Cultural Creatives per se. But I did. If that makes any sense at all. As soon as the trailer started, I was crying- as if my soul had come home. Dear Irene. more than a bit of beauty, a wave of ingenuity. Perhaps the most powerful of what humans bring to life, their ability to get involved and move mountains while sleeping giants snore. Sending love…
Jennifer Duchene
The Polite Woman’s Guide to Radical Rediscovery.-
It makes total sense to me Jennifer, knowing you a bit, it makes total sense. I too have sensed this my whole life with out being able to put into words. When your schedule calms down let me know. I’d love to get together and talk about further. I have some ideas I’d like to bounce off of you!
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I have never heard of it so far, glad you talked about it!
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