{"title":"Samuel W. Franklin","description":"\u003cp\u003eSamuel W. Franklin’s works delve into the intricate dynamics of history and the forces that shape our world. His writing offers thoughtful perspectives on cultural and military themes, inviting readers to explore the interplay between creativity and power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a focus that spans historical analysis and the complexities of human endeavour, Franklin’s books challenge conventional narratives and encourage a deeper understanding of past and present conflicts.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-cult-of-creativity-by-samuel-w-franklin-9780226836706","title":"The Cult of Creativity","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA history of how, in the mid-twentieth century, we came to believe in the concept of creativity. Named a best book of 2023 by the \u003cem\u003eNew Yorker\u003c\/em\u003e and a notable book of 2023 by \u003cem\u003eBehavioral Scientist\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Cult of Creativity\u003c\/em\u003e examines how creativity became one of American society's signature values, despite being a relatively recent concept that entered our everyday speech in the 1950s. Samuel W. Franklin reveals how postwar Americans developed the idea of creativity through campaigns that aimed to harness the individual’s power to meet the demands of American capitalism and life during the Cold War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreativity was championed by a diverse group of professionals—psychologists, engineers, and advertising experts—as a solution for the conformity and alienation they believed stifled American ingenuity. It was promoted as a force of individualism and the human spirit, becoming a new middle-class aspiration suited to the needs of corporate America and the spirit of anticommunism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the face of increasingly rigid systems, creativity took on an alluring aura; it was perceived as a more democratic trait than genius, yet more refined than mere intelligence. The term's ambiguity allowed various people and institutions to claim it as a remedy for issues ranging from corporate stagnation to urban decay. In today’s world, where creativity is continually sought, quantified, and maximized, Franklin's insightful history of the concept sheds light on its true nature and whom it genuinely benefits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000774181100,"sku":"9780226836706","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20595343482268.jpg?v=1763303668"},{"product_id":"the-cult-of-creativity-by-samuel-w-franklin-9780226657851","title":"The Cult of Creativity","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Cult of Creativity\u003c\/em\u003e provides a history of how, in the mid-twentieth century, we came to believe in the concept of creativity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreativity is one of American society’s signature values. Schools claim to foster it, businesses say they thrive on it, and countless cities say it’s what makes them unique. However, the idea that there is such a thing as “creativity”—and that it can be cultivated—is surprisingly recent, entering our everyday speech in the 1950s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs Samuel Weil Franklin reveals, postwar Americans created creativity through campaigns to define and harness the power of the individual to meet the demands of American capitalism and life under the Cold War. Creativity was championed by a cluster of professionals—psychologists, engineers, and advertising people—as a cure for the conformity and alienation they feared was stifling American ingenuity. It was touted as a force of individualism and the human spirit, a new middle-class aspiration that suited the needs of corporate America and the spirit of anticommunism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmid increasingly rigid systems, creativity took on an air of romance; it was a more democratic quality than genius, but more rarified than mere intelligence. The term eluded clear definition, allowing all sorts of people and institutions to claim it as a solution to their problems, from corporate dullness to urban decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToday, when creativity is constantly sought after, quantified, and maximised, Franklin’s eye-opening history of the concept helps us to see what it really is, and whom it really serves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47464310604012,"sku":"9780226657851","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780226657851-the-cult-of-creativity.jpg?v=1775046282"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/samuel-w-franklin.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}