{"id":9,"date":"2026-06-19T22:45:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T22:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/?p=9"},"modified":"2026-06-20T01:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T01:19:51","slug":"assignment-x-be-the-creative-self-you-want-to-see-in-the-world-%f0%9f%a7%91%f0%9f%8e%a8%f0%9f%8c%8f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/2026\/06\/19\/assignment-x-be-the-creative-self-you-want-to-see-in-the-world-%f0%9f%a7%91%f0%9f%8e%a8%f0%9f%8c%8f\/","title":{"rendered":"Assignment X: Be the creative self you want to see in the world \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83c\udfa8\ud83c\udf0f"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cMany of us wish we were more creative. Many of us sense we are more creative, but unable to effectively tap that creativity. Our dreams elude us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Julia Cameron, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2023\/09\/05\/1193447515\/the-artists-way\">The Artist\u2019s Way<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The inspiration for this week\u2019s blog comes from the idea of participatory service and transparency. I am especially interested in the idea of moving past media spectatorship especially as people become more and more involved in hobbies, crafts, creating for personal enrichment and not monetary gain. This idea comes from Henry Jenkins who wrote on the theory of participatory culture.\u201cHe argues that with the rise of digital technology and social media, audiences are no longer passive consumers but active participants in cultural production. This shift has transformed traditional hierarchies in media, allowing for greater collaboration and interaction among fans, creators, and distributors.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masteringmedia.net\/henryjenkins\">Masteringmedia.net<\/a> Many of us become hesitant to write, paint, draw or delve into other creative pursuits when we decide it is not worth the time or effort or when we decide we are not talented enough. I noticed this trend often on Instagram as people encourage creativity based on your individual growth and feeling that comes from the act of creating itself.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Becoming a talented artist equals fame and money although that is not always the case. We also put a lot of worth into artists and creatives but when we look at the funding for the arts in terms of education it is a different story. This <a href=\"https:\/\/nafme.org\/blog\/as-the-shutdown-ends-the-push-for-arts-education-funding-continues\/\">site<\/a> looks at the budget cuts that arts education are currently facing. Incorporating the arts into library programs and services as a way for patrons to be part of their community and be active participants touches on the notion of participatory culture and makes a space where those individuals can access their inner artist.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This idea comes into fruition at the Chicago Public Library. Henry Jenkins points out that the shift in how we approach media creates greater collaboration and interaction with fans, creators etc. but in the case of public libraries it creates a stronger community. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chipublib.org\/programs-and-partnerships\/youmedia\/\">YouMedia<\/a> is a program at the Chicago Public Library for teens where they can use digital media to create using technology including 3D printers, laptops, and even vinyl cutters. \u201cWith an emphasis on digital media and the maker movement, teens engage in projects across a variety of core content areas including graphic design, photography, video, music, 2D\/3D design, STEM and hands-on making.\u201d This also explores into the idea of radical trust mentioned in our lecture on participatory service. We trust these teens to use this equipment and in turn I think this also builds confidence and responsibility in teens. Teens should feel as though an adult trusts them enough to be responsible in this context. In addition, teens can not only connect with their community while being active participants and consumers of their peer\u2019s art, but they can tap into their inventive and artistic selves. When we create something in the context of community the reason for making the art is not judged but its monetary worth or in terms of artistic genius. We are creating for something more important.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Some of the programs I found on the Youmedia Chicago Instagram page:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6952-139x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6952-139x300.png 139w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6952-768x1662.png 768w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6952-710x1536.png 710w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6952.png 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 167px) 100vw, 167px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951-139x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951-139x300.png 139w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951-473x1024.png 473w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951-768x1662.png 768w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951-710x1536.png 710w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951-946x2048.png 946w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6951.png 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 178px) 100vw, 178px\" \/>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950-139x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"172\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950-139x300.png 139w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950-473x1024.png 473w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950-768x1662.png 768w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950-710x1536.png 710w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950-946x2048.png 946w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/IMG_6950.png 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 172px) 100vw, 172px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/Chicago-Owl-300x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/Chicago-Owl-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/Chicago-Owl-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/Chicago-Owl-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/602\/2026\/06\/Chicago-Owl.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">On a sidenote: I love the CPL mascot. A more subdued version of the Duolingo owl.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cMany of us wish we were more creative. Many of us sense we are more creative, but unable to effectively tap that creativity. Our dreams elude us.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Julia Cameron, The Artist\u2019s Way \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The inspiration for this week\u2019s blog comes from the idea of participatory service and transparency. I am &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/2026\/06\/19\/assignment-x-be-the-creative-self-you-want-to-see-in-the-world-%f0%9f%a7%91%f0%9f%8e%a8%f0%9f%8c%8f\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Assignment X: Be the creative self you want to see in the world \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83c\udfa8\ud83c\udf0f<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":874,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/874"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9\/revisions\/29"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/287.hyperlib.sjsu.edu\/librarianodyssey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}