Date of Award

5-2025

Access Control

Open Access

Degree Name

Creative Studies, M.S.

Department

Creative Studies

Advisor

Dr. Melodi Ozyaprak, PhD

Department Home page

https://creativity.buffalostate.edu

First Reader

Kim Marie McKernan

Second Reader

Louise Eberle

Third Reader

Usman Ghani

Abstract

The persistent ambiguity surrounding the definition of creativity has hindered its advancement across academic, educational, and professional settings. In response, this paper proposes an updated framework—The Mighty C—which defines creativity as the intrinsic human activity of generating meaningful, novel, and useful outcomes through deliberate process. This model addresses critical gaps in conventional definitions, particularly the frequent omission of meaningfulness, intentionality, and the uniquely human nature of creativity. It further emphasizes the recursive nature of these aspects across different levels of creative activity, represented through the structure of fractals. Drawing from scholarly models such as Rhodes’ 4Ps and Kaufman and Beghetto’s 4C framework, The Mighty C offers a unifying perspective grounded in both theory and lived experience. The paper also outlines a workshop series tailored for IT entrepreneurs, demonstrating how the model supports the deliberate cultivation of creativity in real-world contexts.

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