<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the Internet on distributed creativity. While the social mechanisms that are fundamental for creative expression are not radically different online, and while we want to avoid overly romanticizing the role of the Internet or falling prey to technological determinism, we argue that there are, nevertheless, significant shifts that must be acknowledged and examined. In order to achieve a more nuanced and analytical account, we suggest a simple framework centred around five questions - who, when, where, how and why - that allow for a differentiated understanding of the range of changes in creative expression in the Internet age. To model the application of this framework, we use the example of crowdsourced art (participatory online art) as a creative practice that illustrates some of these key shifts. In thinking about creativity in online spaces, we suggest that the consideration of actors (who), times (when), places (where), processes (how) and motives (why) facilitates a valuable multidimensional understanding of these significant and complex changes.</p></abstract>

This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the Internet on distributed creativity. While the social mechanisms that are fundamental for creative expression are not radically different online, and while we want to avoid overly romanticizing the role of the Internet or falling prey to technological determinism, we argue that there are, nevertheless, significant shifts that must be acknowledged and examined. In order to achieve a more nuanced and analytical account, we suggest a simple framework centred around five questions - who, when, where, how and why - that allow for a differentiated understanding of the range of changes in creative expression in the Internet age. To model the application of this framework, we use the example of crowdsourced art (participatory online art) as a creative practice that illustrates some of these key shifts. In thinking about creativity in online spaces, we suggest that the consideration of actors (who), times (when), places (where), processes (how) and motives (why) facilitates a valuable multidimensional understanding of these significant and complex changes.

Same but Different? Distributed Creativity in the Internet Age

Creativity. Theories – Research - Applications

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Same but Different? Distributed Creativity in the Internet Age"}

This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the Internet on distributed creativity. While the social mechanisms that are...

Same but Different? Distributed Creativity in the Internet Age

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 330 - 342

Received: Mar 09, 2016

Accepted: Sep 07, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ctra-2016-0020

Keywords
Creativity, Internet, Participation, Crowdsourced art, Digital media

© 2016 Ioana Literat et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Same but Different? Distributed Creativity in the Internet Age

Published Online: Dec 30, 2016

Page range: 330 - 342

Received: Mar 09, 2016

Accepted: Sep 07, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ctra-2016-0020

KeywordsCreativity, Internet, Participation, Crowdsourced art, Digital media

© 2016 Ioana Literat et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Creativity, Internet, Participation, Crowdsourced art, Digital media