Through the Creator's Eyes: Using the Subjective Camera to Study Craft Creativity

Abstract

This article addresses a methodological gap in the study of creativity: the difficulty of capturing the microgenesis of creative action in ways that would reflect both its psychological and behavioral dynamics. It explores the use of subjective camera (subcam) by research participants as part of an adapted Subjective Evidence-Based Ethnography (SEBE). This methodology combines (a) obtaining first person audio-visual recordings of creative action with a miniature video-camera worn at eye-level, (b) accessing the subjective experience of the participant through a confrontation interview based on the recording, and (c) formulating interpretations and discussing them with the participant. Illustrations of the technique are offered from a study of craft creativity, chosen as a test ground for its micro-level forms of creative expression. Findings exemplify how the technique enables microscopic description of creativity at both process and content levels. The benefits, limitations, and possible applications of the method are considered in the broader context of creativity studies.

Acknowledgments

We grateful for the assistance offered by the National Museum of Decorated Eggs, Ciocăneşti, in performing the research, and thank the reviewers for their comments. This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (grant number ES/H/13199/1).