In the Margins

30 JUN 2025 — 22:00

This past semester, I wrote a paper exploring the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries and argued that, even as algorithms become more advanced, human art remains irreplaceable. During my research, I came across a TEDx talk by Amie McNee that felt deeply resonant and relevant for both those who identify as artists and those who don't.

 

Rather than viewing creativity as frivolous or optional, McNee frames it as a radical act of resistance in a world that commodifies our expression and attention. Creativity, she suggests, is a reclamation of agency, a restoration of focus, and an antidote to the existential weight many of us carry in uncertain times. Creating art becomes an act of meaning-making. It's the "missing pillar of self-development," a necessary expression of a whole and honest you.

 

I've often slipped into the mindset that my creations, whether code or craft, must be flawless to be worthy of the light of day. But art is much broader than that. Art is also a journal entry, a knitted scarf gifted to a friend, a goofy doodle in the margin of your notebook. A shared moment of vulnerability, a homemade birthday card, a voice memo humming a half-finished melody. A table set with care, a late-night photo capturing fleeting feelings, a quiet walk where you start to notice the light again. These, too, are worthy and important acts of creativity. In a society that overvalues productivity and perfection, it's easy to overlook the quieter ways we create and make meaning together.

 

As I deepen my own creative practices, I’m reminded that behind every line of code or embroidered stitch is the deep human desire to connect. Now more than ever, as artificial intelligence expands creative possibilities while also blurring lines around authorship, I'm learning to stay more closely attuned to the part of me that craves authentic expression and togetherness above all else.

 

If you've been feeling stuck, small, or scattered, this is your reminder: your imperfect, meaningful art takes myriad forms, and the world needs it.