The Creative System in Action: Understanding Cultural Production and Practice

The first of its kind, this book is an overview of systems based research into creativity. It focuses on empirical studies into creativity that use the systems approach. Uniquely, the authors in this edited collection incorporate not just individual creators but also the social and cultural contexts in which they work and in doing so account for the creative system in action. Looking past Romantic approaches the authors explore a rational explanation of creativity across a range of fields including music, journalism, fiction and non-fiction writing, film, theatre, the arts and design, and digital media. Showcasing innovative research into the creative system in action across various forms of cultural production, the book will attract readers from cultural studies, sociology, psychology, communication and media studies, and the arts. Undergraduate students taking courses related to creative practice or creative industries will also find it valuable.

Phillip McIntyre is an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He is a former musician, music journalist, record producer and video-maker. His book Creativity and Cultural Production: Issues for Media Practice is also published by Palgrave MacMillan. He convenes the Communication and Media Research (CAMR) group and is researching the creative industries though an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant.

Dr Janet Fulton is a lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research interests include creativity and cultural production, journalism, journalism education, social media, and cultural production in the digital age.

Dr Elizabeth Paton is Senior Education and Outreach Officer for the Australia Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function (Monash University node). Previously, she taught communication and creative industries subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research interests include creativity, creative industries, fiction writing and education.