Creative Young Minds
- jakeheffron
- Feb 1, 2022
- 2 min read
I've lately been considering the ability of younger minds to produce and respond to creative content such as magic and witchcraft. Although the supernatural was much more widely accepted by adolescents and adults alike centuries ago, today we see younger groups much more attracted to these concepts. Much of this can likely be explained by the idea of ambiguity. In ancient times, magic overlapped with religion, academics, and medicine. Turning to the supernatural was among the only ways to explain ambiguous concepts considering the state of society. Nordic rituals and sacrifices, Mesopotamian Maqlu tablets, and the Mayan belief in divine objects are just a few examples of utilizing magical concepts to achieve a purpose that otherwise may have seemed to abstract to understand.
Why have many of these beliefs and practices dissipated? Have humans "evolved" or "grown up" since then? From a physical standpoint, not really. When considered in terms of advancing to more elevated thinking, perhaps. I would argue, however, that this does not mean these magical concepts cannot provide value and perspective to the ways of the world. Young minds who have had less exposure to modern day beliefs find themselves more interested in stories like Harry Potter or The Lord of The Rings--fantasy worlds with mystical and other-worldly sequences of events. As one grows older, the beliefs presented by modern scholars, scientists, and society in general lead people away from the belief that these worlds could exist.
Pondering this idea, I was led to the conclusion that although societal knowledge has advanced through the centuries, there can be value driven from the creativity of past beliefs. Children can understand this value due to their ability to conceptualize creative ideas without the distraction of "reality." In this sense, they provide perspective that others may not possess. Exploring this concept could lead to new perspectives on the world not previously considered. Additionally, what could be the impact on the entertainment industry? Should children be conceptualizing these fantasy worlds?
There is power in the innocence and creativity of young minds. The impacts of this I do not yet know for certain, but I sure will consider this going forward when listening to someone younger than me.
Thanks for this interesting post. You are quite correct above when you mention that magic was a way for people to make sense of their worlds. Humans cannot tolerate vacuums of meaning, and no matter the situation humans will find interpretations. Magic and the supernatural made a lot of sense to cultures in the past, and obviously still today. I think you are also right about younger people and the sense of wonder they have but then tend to lose as they grow older. I think all of us, no matter the age, need to sustain that sense of wonder and possibility.