Can a person engage in creativity in a time of crisis?

The question of whether creative activity is appropriate when terrible events are happening around us is raised not only among creative people but also where creativity is shown.

The history of art has plenty of evidence that people do this and have always done it. So the question is not about the possibility, but about the moral right to spend time, attention and resources on creativity instead of reading the news and helping people.

This question exists only because there is an opinion that creativity is entertainment.

Creativity is not entertainment. Especially not for the author. The main task of creativity is reflection: in calm times it is a way of, or an attempt at, moral, emotional and spiritual growth, and in times of crisis it is a chance to stabilise a state that has lost its balance. That is exactly why wars, revolutions, repressions, bans... bring a surge of creativity.

In emotionally difficult times creativity becomes even more important. Like a visit to a psychotherapist, meditation or prayer.

During the creative process a person tries to answer, within themselves, questions that are important and usually ambiguous for them.

By publishing creative works, authors offer the same process to viewers.

Regular creative activities and exercises help people stay in good shape not only emotionally but also physically. Most kinds of creativity require physical action, focus, structure, persistence and precision in working with physical materials. All this trains the brain to think and the body to move, as sport does.

A person does not turn to creativity to use up the resources they have. They turn to creativity to restore and multiply them.

Teachers who can motivate people to be creative should do it even more actively in times of crisis.
It is as important as regular sleep, food and exercise.

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