How do non-human animals’ creative processes
contribute to the diversity of the planet we share? This question guided Carol Gigliotti through the maze of writing The Creative Lives of Animals. I had
this book in my reading list before it won the 2023 Nautilus Book Award in the category of Animals and Nature, so it was a pleasant surprise to learn about
this recognition.
The author examines the scientific research on
the multiple ways non-human animals create, blending into her narrative insights, reflections
and memorable personal experiences.
Based on her detailed work of research, Gigliotti
asserts that animals are creative in ways that are similar to humans and
decidedly unique.
Before delving into the examples of creativity
in animals, she explores the concept of creativity, acknowledging some of the qualities
that make up the mosaic of creativity, such as flexibility,
curiosity, intelligence, persistence and comfort with complexity. Her book also
reflects on how creativity intersects with empathy, cooperation and morality.
The creative process engages emotional aspects
as well as cognitive ones.
“If you created anything, whether that
something is a favorite recipe, a garden plan, or a new app, you know that
thoughts about the past, the future, and the feelings of others often arise in
the creative process you used to make that dish, plan that garden, or design
that new app, and may influence it.”
Traditional views of creativity used to be restricted
to focus on the most celebrated human artists, scientists and innovators, but
the concept has expanded to appreciate the creativity of ordinary individuals
and the cooperation among groups of people. How can creativity play a role in a
community and impact a culture? How does creativity manifest in the world in
ways that go beyond the human contribution?
“The creativity of animals exists on the individual,
group, species and ecosystem level, and the loss of an individual animal is the
loss of that individual’s contribution to those interactions.”
We are only one species out of millions of
species who inhabit the earth. The chapters of the book describe acts of creativity in various species of animals.
Over the last five years research has evolved
considerably in the field of animal behavior. Non-human animals are no longer
viewed as automatons that follow natural instincts but as complex individuals
with personalities, intelligence, emotions, and even aesthetic sensitivity. There is still a lot to be learned about their
complexity.
“I
made the decision to focus on the creativity of animals not in comparison or in
contrast to human creativity but to see both as part of a ‘deep source’ of encompassing
creativity. “
One of the most memorable experiences she
shares in The Creative Lives of Animals takes us back to a remote mysterious place
where the lives of humans are deeply intertwined with those of animals. Respect
and knowledge are at the core of their coexistence. Her days there “opened
her eyes to animals as members of families and cultures”. Gigliotti stayed with
the Kitasoo/Xai’xais in the village of Klemtu on the island of Princess Royal
in northern British Columbia, home to the Spirit Bear. There are still no roads
there. “The ratio of humans to land is quite low and so, compared to many
places on earth, untouched by humans.” The unemployment rate was reduced
from eighty percent to ten percent. Money is used to protect the people and the
animals, and to sustain their communities. The Coastal Guardian Watchmen protect
the wolves, bears, raptors and other animals from trophy hunting.
Gigliotti spent many hours talking to the
people at Klemtu to understand the relationship between the community of indigenous
people and the animals who inhabit the tribal lands.
Animals that are considered “ferocious”, evil”
or “hunting trophies” by other human cultures are treated with respect in
Klemtu. Doug, a former chief leader, as well as other bandmates are very knowledgeable
about bears and other animals in the region, and their curiosity and understanding of bears contribute
to a peaceful coexistence. For example,
they understand the bears’ reactions to different colors. They’d researched
this by wearing different-colored clothes on different days.
After an
interesting journey by tugboat through glacier-carved fjords, a visitor asked
Doug about a case he had been carrying. The visitor was convinced it was a gun.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The case contained a camera. Guns
would have made things tense; bears and other animals would have treated them
with distrust if Doug had been carrying a gun. Those were not needed.
Perhaps her book will inspire humans to embrace
ideas and actions that appreciate and respect the unique lives of animals as
contributors to the diversity of the world. This intriguing book will hopefully
encourage the newer generations of people to open up in the direction of new
paths of cooperation and empathy not only toward non-human animals but also toward
each other.
I am sharing a couple of videos about the
region and culture I mentioned in my post: Klemtu.
This one is about bears in Klemtu:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTD4-FfRf3I
This one is about how they have addressed unemployment and so much more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3JLBcLXnNA
If you
enjoyed this post, you may be inclined to read my reviews on the following
books:
