There's a saying among creative thinkers that goes something along the lines of "if you only work from within, you will repeat yourself". That's the gist of it anyway, which speaks to the need for external stimulation and inspiration. Of course, I like to take it a little further and apply it to life in general, which ends up justifying the need for diverse perspectives and opinions.
On one hand though, I don't entirely agree with the sentiment that truly creative thinking is only acquired through externalities. To give it a more concrete example; it's the same when anyone tells me they use drugs to enhance their creativity. When people say this they're kind of shitting on their own worth by saying that any innate creativity they embody is not enough. If you think that the abstract and surreal world of creativity is beyond your grasp, then I honestly feel sorry for you.
I feel like I can relate to this a little bit, as I've been fed the same line about some of my own art. I recall being sidelined at an exhibition by someone who was convinced that I was on acid when I painted some painting they liked. Knowing that this was completely incorrect turned a potential insult into something I took as a misguided compliment. It was a little insulting to think that they couldn't imagine me coming up with something abstract without an external influence, but knowing that's not the case flips it right around.
It's the same reason I roll my eyes when people swear that certain bands had to be super high on drugs when they created some crazy music. I'd rather think of my favourite bands as fantastically creative musicians who have the talent and skill to be truly creative in their medium. I'm sure there are plenty of examples where these influences have been present, but there are just as many where they aren't.
In a similar way, I consider it a boon if someone is able to create diverse work without any external influence. Surely we can see how creative some people can be - they're usually the ones who overflow with ideas and wonderfully exaggerated opinions.
I love the internet and how well it connects random people from anywhere in the world. It's probably the main way that I'm able to find new artists and art work that's ultra-contemporary and interesting. At the same time, there are countless artists out there who present sheer talent and technical ability, so there's no lack of external inspiration to discover. However, I quickly started to notice how a lot of people find something they do well, and then do nothing else for as long as they can. The amount of artists I've found online who simply create variations of their previous work is astounding, and actually a little depressing.
Don't get me wrong; if you've found something that works for you and you enjoy pumping it out, then go for it. I guess what disappoints me as a fan of creative work, is when the work repeats itself and people rest on their laurels. I mean, how many artists can you name simply by looking at one of their pieces, or listening to a single song. Repetition and iteration have saturated the creative world like there's no tomorrow.
I'm not even saying that it's necessarily a bad thing either. Many times I've been disappointed when an artist changes their style drastically to something I'm not that interested in as a fan. There are many bands that I've lost interest in because they've evolved their style into something that fails to excite me. So it's easy to see why sticking to a good thing can be worthwhile, as any audience can be alienated easily. Although, there are some artists who establish themselves as the type of creative entity that will try new things, and has the skill to back it up.
One of my favourite writers is Angela Carter, who is famous for having a strong voice in her writing and often tackling the surreal and abstract natures of humanity. While her voice is always present, what I like about Carter is her talent for changing it up between novels. She manages to write the surreal in one breathe, only to follow it up with stark realism. What makes her writing wonderful is that she has the talent and creative confidence to write in a way that suits the story being told.
I often wonder how many creatives are focusing on what's best for the work, or what's best for them. Neither priority is intrinsically higher than the other, but it changes the way the work progresses over time. It seems like a lot of artists have nailed an idea once in their creative life, so continue to repeat themselves by iterating and recreating the same idea. It's a natural result of our cohesive manufacturing lifestyle, which feels at odds with an artist's mandate of non-conformity. Yes, I think it's the responsibility of creative people to work at non-conformity and celebrate otherness. Failure to do so removes almost everything that makes great art worthwhile.
Hence the notion that externalities are not the devil, but they also aren't the only way to create. For the artists out there who are stuck in a rut and making the same work over and over - find some other influences. The goal should always be improvement and diverse creativity.
One's own style will always bleed into the work, as we can only ever create with our own hands. We can only see through our own eyes, so there will always be a common thread tying our work together. I've been guilty of trying to develop my creative identity more than anything else in the past, but I learned that's no way to evolve. When our focus is only ever inwards, we really do repeat ourselves… badly.
I don't know though. It's naïve to criticise anyone for creating work that people like, as we all have to get on in the world. There's no room for me or anyone else to be your judge, so make whatever the hell you want. I really don't have anything against the artist who makes a living by creating something I'm not digging. That's the beauty of diversity and being open to the world; there's room for everyone.
So I suppose the point of this post and thought process is that we should always strive to be better people and better creatives. It's not enough to judge others when they're going about things in a different way. If we're unhappy with our own creative work, then perhaps it's time to look beyond ourselves, or come back to the internal world. There are always ways to change it up.
Thankfully, it has been my experience that change is a good thing, and something work seeking. It's hard at times to "be" the change, but that can often be the only change that yields results.