Samuel W. Franklin

Humans have always created. But historian Samuel W. Franklin argues that "creativity" didn't become a social value until the Cold War. Today, we're at another inflection point for humanity, technology, and national identity. The meaning of originality is blurring; there are legal disputes about what constitutes original art; and AI can write a song like your favorite artist in seconds. So what does it mean to put creativity on a pedestal? And what would it look like to tear it down? On this episode, we talk with Franklin, author of "The Cult of Creativity: A Surprisingly Recent History," about original thinking, AI, and how the human drive to create gets branded, packaged, and sold.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Cultural historian Samuel Franklin critiques the modern obsession with creativity, suggesting it's overhyped and often distracts from actually getting work done. He traces the rise of this 'cult of creativity' back to post-WWII influences. Meanwhile, science writer Nina Nesseth explores the allure of horror films, explaining how they ignite our brains and evoke pleasure from fear through stimulation transfer theory. She highlights how horror not only reflects societal fears but also helps audiences process intense emotions.