Personal Creativity Reflection

Psychology of innovation
During the third day we discussed which parts
of innovation can be learned, which parts cannot.
We did an in-depth study of Lady Gaga: she
actually studies famous people and attempts to
figure out what makes them famous. She
expanded greatly on Madonnas public image,
and she is a classically trained pianist so she fully
understands music theory. She either writes or
co-writes all of her songs, and she knows the origin of everything that goes in or on her body related to
food, makeup, or costume. She ensures that everything she does has a purpose, and though it is a lot of
work, she finds it meaningful. She maintains a strong fan base with younger adults and adolescents,
especially those in the LGBTQ community. Many of her fans feel disenfranchised or disconnected, but
they are able to connect with her music, so this is where she finds her true supporters. Finally, she has
managed to shield her private life well from the public. She avoids paparazzi all the time, but she also
dresses crazily to give people something to talk about. Lady Gaga is truly innovative because she is
always shaping and reshaping her public image to maintain her fame. She makes an effort to never
look the same twice. She has been a key force in introducing technology into the entertainment
industry; first with Myspace, then Facebook and Twitter. She also releases music strategically though
Amazon lost money when they signed her exclusively, they gained her fan base. I had never before
thought of someone like Lady Gaga as innovative, but this class really helped me to see that innovation
is not just in the technological realm, but in every industry. She is truly an innovator by the innovators
DNA model. She associates her fame with other famous people who have come before her. She
questions everything around her, observes other people in the spotlight, and networks through
everyone, both her fan base and other famous people. Though we covered other topics today, it is Lady
Gagas story that impacted me the most.

Course Activities 12