Introduction: Culture and Environment

One of the unpredictable things that life offers a man upon his arrival at the world is his environment and culture. You were born into the existing culture prevalent in an environment which you had no decision on whether or not you wanted to be numbered among its habitants.

How interesting it is to observe that man comes into this world with nothing but when he leaves the world, a lot is said about him! Tributes are made and the purest of hearts wish him a better rest on the other side of life. Indeed, life is a game of snakes and ladders−the ups and downs, the successes and setbacks that one experiences throughout life.

In the game of snakes and ladders, players move forward by climbing ladders and may slide back by landing on snakes. Similarly, in life, individuals encounter moments of progress and advancement (ladders) as well as setbacks and challenges (snakes). The analogy highlights the unpredictable nature of life’s journey and the importance of resilience in navigating its twists and turns. Subsequently, you may choose to define your culture or explore the world beyond your environment, but a non-negotiable fact is the influence your culture and environment have on you.

Perception of Culture and Environment

When you perceive that you have outgrown the birth environment, or desire to explore the world, it is a proof that you have encountered or desire a perspective different from the norm within your immediate environment. When a child born into a culture begins to rebel against the culture, it is certain that he has a counter culture. At the end of the day, we are features of the biased expression of our cultures and environments. Thus, your culture and environment influence your creative expression.

This does not credit the apathy or poor concepts expressed by creatives while exploring their potentials, and it is the reason you need to think globally and juxtapose your environment and culture’s excellence with globally-appreciated standards of excellence without losing your authenticity.

The entertainment space in Nigeria exemplifies this narrative. Have you listened to some singers and you wonder, “This artist is so good, but he is underrated?” Often times, the reason for such perceived underestimation is because such artist’s name appears not to be on the lips of everyone, reason being that despite having a good music, such singer is possibly not singing in the ‘language’ of the people or the appreciated style of the people. During the Covid-19 pandemic, imagine a singer sang a song with the theme of mental health or healing, such song will be a sold-out one, especially if it was solemn. The pandemic era was a time when people needed love, calmness and hope.

Culture, Environment and Creative Expression

Culture within this context is the conglomerate of a people or person’s ways of life including perceptions, art and beliefs. It entails the ‘rituals’, ‘habit’ and tendencies associated with a people; the environment is the ecosystem in which you exist. Your creative expression cannot exist outside your interactions, and since you cannot place something on nothing, there is aa high probability that your culture and environment will reflect in your creative expression. Moreover, your creative expression will be appreciated by persons who subscribe to the culture that reflects in your expression or environment that influences your expression.

Does this mean that you have to dance to the tune of your culture or environment, even if it does not sit well with you?

Well, your surrounding culture and environment can influence your creative expression but this narrative is to your discretion.

You can live among a people who believe that a girl child should get married at eleven but decide to groom your children differently. This is because you have encountered a culture that negates such belief, and then uphold this external culture against your surrounding culture.

This is what I mean when I tell you that it is to your discretion to determine how far your culture and environment influence your creative expression.

Irrespective of the culture or environment that influences your creative expression, your priority should be to remain as authentic as possible.

Again, no man is an island of experience. Your encounter with the systems builds the knowledge you have. Notwithstanding, your authenticity can be certain while you are inspired by the culture and environment.  It means that the culture and environment does not determine your expression but can be features that spice up your expression. Maintaining authenticity as a creative, amid cultural and environmental influences is a nuanced balance.

8 Ways to Maintain Authenticity as A Creative

• Know Yourself: Understand your values, beliefs and what makes your creative voice unique. This self-awareness forms the foundation of authenticity.
• Stay True to Your Vision: A man without a vision will stand for nothing and fall for everything. While it’s essential to be open to new ideas and influences, don’t compromise your core vision or style to fit in with trends or societal expectations.
• Embrace Diversity: Appreciate and draw inspiration from diverse cultures and environments, but interpret them through your own lens rather than simply mimicking or appropriating.
• Challenge Conventions: Don’t be afraid to question norms and conventions. Authenticity often involves pushing boundaries and presenting new perspectives.
• Seek Feedback, Not Validation: While feedback is valuable, prioritise staying true to your creative vision over seeking validation from others.
• Honour Your Process: Respect your creative process and allow yourself the time and space to explore ideas without external pressure to conform.
• Stay Grounded: Remember your roots and the experiences that have shaped you. Remember, creativity is a conglomerate of different facets of you. Grounding yourself in your origins can help you maintain authenticity amid changing influences. 8. Continuously Evolve: Authenticity doesn’t mean staying stagnant. Allow yourself to evolve and grow as a creative, while staying true to your core principles.

Conclusion

In a society of normalised averages, the onus lies on you to maintain authenticity in your creative expression. It may not be an easy task, but it definitely sets you out for relevance when global standards are brought into play in the creative world.

Have you learnt something? Let us know in the comment box below.