Imagination: A Collective Mind’s Eye
By Nella Rohan, ArtWell Staff Writer
I think that most people think about the concept of imagination as related to the artistic realm or the natural creativity of children–a superpower reserved for children with an innate ability to conjure fantastical worlds, vivid stories, and imaginary friends and create new games with ease or professional artists and creators. For most adults, imagination might seem more elusive like a fleeting stroke of luck rather than a skill we can cultivate with practice. This couldn’t be further from the truth, however. If you’ve ever achieved a lofty goal or a vision of how to make life better for others, you’ve activated your imagination.
Mainstream Definitions of Imagination
Merriam-Webster defines Imagination as:
1: The act or power of forming a mental picture of something not present and especially of something one has not known or experienced, 2: Creative ability, 3: A creation of the mind
Oxford’s definition is essentially the same in different wording:
1: The faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses; 2: the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful.
Wikipedia elaborates on the concept in its Imagination entry, stating that
“Imagination is the production of sensations, feelings, and thoughts informing oneself. These experiences can be re-creations of past experiences, such as vivid memories with imagined changes, or completely invented and possibly fantastic scenes. Imagination helps apply knowledge to solve problems and is fundamental to integrating experience and the learning process.”
A Deeper Look
I love this definition because it connects to personal agency and community action. Imagination and Social Justice are two of ArtWell’s six core values, and Imagination is ArtWell’s chosen theme for this year; however, we rarely discuss the relationship between the two concepts. This interpretation suggests that knowledge without imagination is futile when solving problems in our lives and broader communities. A cornerstone of our work at ArtWell is empowering youth through healing-centered arts practices, activating their creative facilities to expand their beliefs about what is possible in their lives, schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Imagination is the genesis of meaningful and enduring change. Using the arts as an entry point to consider a wider range of possibilities gives students the agency and confidence to imagine and help construct a more socially just society.
Imagination: A Manifesto
In adherence to our theme this year, ArtWell’s ReadingWell is reading Ruha Benjamin’s Imagination: A Manifesto. This text has proven essential reading for artists, educators, activists, and anyone involved in social justice work, which requires radical imagination. Benjamin’s book is an incisive and well-researched meditation on the power we all have to use our imaginations to challenge deadly systems of oppression and construct a world beyond the struggle to survive toward thriving.
We couldn’t have selected a more perfect book for ReadingWell this year. The manifesto examines the products of the “dominant imagination,” positing that we’ve been living with sexism, racism, and classism for so long that we forget these oppressive forces originated in the human imagination. Benjamin’s words rouse us out of our complacent slumber. The persistence of these isms has lulled us into it and asks us what it will take to disrupt the status quo. While this may seem bleak initially, there is hope in the notion that we can refute these harmful stories by coming together to create new stories that reflect the truth of our experiences and consider what we need and what our youth need to live peaceful and happy lives where they feel secure and protected.
Want to attend the first ReadingWell Discussion of Imagination: A Manifesto?
Join us on Zoom December 4th at 7PM! No pre-reading necessary. To learn more or register, click here.
Imagining New Narratives
With the core value of Imagination guiding ArtWell’s work this year, we’ve examined the profound impact of helping students develop their imagination muscles. Serena Williams’s father famously used this technique during her childhood training, telling her, “This is you at the US Open… Boom.” His words didn’t just inspire her to dream; they instilled the confidence to see herself achieving greatness long before it happened. Similarly, we encourage our students to use their imaginations to construct new stories for themselves and their communities, fostering a sense of agency and belief in their ability to make these visions a reality. The practice of visualization—a powerful tool for imagining new narratives and possibilities for their lives. Visualization allows students to picture themselves in roles, environments, and futures they might not yet believe are attainable, creating a mental blueprint for success. Understanding narratives and where they originated helps us imagine and create the counter-narratives that will result in a more equitable, peaceful, and empathic society.
Above: portrait poems from ArtWell’s We the Poets program at Emlen Elementary School
It is a critical aspect of our mission and a core value youth can bring into adulthood that has a significant effect. Northup Frye, author of The Educated Imagination, explains, “Imagination is not only a vital component in the composition of narratives but also in understanding narratives.” When we think about it like this, using imagination is not simply a gift but a responsibility to create a better world.