The late 20th and early 21st centuries have been described as an age of creativity in affluent Western societies because of the increased popularity of the visual arts and the expansion of the global sector of the creative and cultural industries (CCI). The psychology of creativity has contributed new conceptualisations of creativity and creative processes, challenging associations that derive from the elite arts. This article investigates the implications of these changes for the gendering of creativity and creative practice. It asks if contemporary reconceptualisations of creativity open new possibilities for women to identify as creative practitioners. The article presents a critical discursive study of interviews with UK women maker-artists. The analysis shows how the women emphasise the practical applications or utility of their creative practice. A claim of utility can function to justify the practice. In addition, a claim of therapeutic utility, for others and for the artist herself, potentially addresses the neoliberal priority that people take responsibility for their personal well-being. However, the justification of utility contrasts with the creative vocation associated with the masculine elite artist who pursues “art for art’s sake”. The justification can therefore be seen to undermine the women’s creative identifications, reinstating the conventionally masculine status of creativity and the arts.

中文翻译：

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超越效用？当代创意认同的性别冲突

由于视觉艺术的日益普及以及全球创意和文化产业 (CCI) 部门的扩张，20 世纪末和 21 世纪初被描述为富裕西方社会的创造力时代。创造力心理学促成了创造力和创造过程的新概念，挑战了源自精英艺术的联想。本文调查了这些变化对创造力和创造性实践的性别化的影响。它询问当代对创造力的重新概念化是否为女性将其视为创意实践者开辟了新的可能性。本文对英国女性创客艺术家的访谈进行了批判性的话语研究。分析显示了女性如何强调其创造性实践的实际应用或效用。效用声明可以起到证明这种做法的作用。此外，对于他人和艺术家本人而言，一种治疗效用的主张可能会解决人们对其个人福祉负责的新自由主义优先事项。然而，效用的正当性与追求“为艺术而艺术”的男性精英艺术家相关的创造性职业形成鲜明对比。因此，其理由可以被视为破坏了女性的创造性认同，恢复了创造力和艺术的传统男性地位。潜在地解决了人们对其个人福祉负责的新自由主义优先事项。然而，效用的正当性与追求“为艺术而艺术”的男性精英艺术家相关的创造性职业形成鲜明对比。因此，其理由可以被视为削弱了女性的创造性认同，恢复了创造力和艺术的传统男性地位。潜在地解决了人们对其个人福祉负责的新自由主义优先事项。然而，效用的正当性与追求“为艺术而艺术”的男性精英艺术家相关的创造性职业形成鲜明对比。因此，其理由可以被视为破坏了女性的创造性认同，恢复了创造力和艺术的传统男性地位。