Creativity: Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!

Phineas-and-Ferb-and-candace-and-perry

“They are forced to think inside the box.”

Today in class we talked about “Creativity and Divert thinking”.  I posed questions such as, “Can you learn to be more creative or is is something that you are born with?” and  “How does ones environment influence creativity?”   I introduced the talk by sharing a short music video from Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!  It is an awesome Disney TV series about two inventors.  When my daughter watches TV, which is not very often, it is one of her favorites;  I love it too.  The students wanted to watch the entire episode, because they all seemed to love the show as well. 

In this episode Phineas and Ferb  get caught by their parents making a flying car and get sent to reform school.    The reform school tries to break them of all creative thought.
Sergeant: OK, listen up, maggots! You are here because your parents (mockingly) are worried about you. Now, the way I see it, the root of all children's problems is unacceptable levels of imagination, fun, creativity and unbridled enthusiasm! Don't you eyeball me! Our goal at this school is to crush the dangerous elements inside you and replace them with structure, order, discipline and conformity.    (Part 1, 05:31)
 
 
The music video “Chains On Me” sung by Dan Povenmire,  has a fun chorus ”Cause they say imagination is morally wrong.”
“Chains On Me” by Dan Povenmire
I woke up this morning, and the world was gray.
Haven't seen the sun since they hauled me away.
The boss man says there's no use in trying,
He won't let me color outside of the lines.
Got these chains on me,
And they're draggin' me down.
Got these chains on me,
Hear that clanking sound?
Got these chains on me,
Mister, hear my song
Don't say imagination is morally wrong
Mm-hmm
Drink of water, boss?
As long as I've been here I got nothing to show,
Try to make something but the boss says no
Wanna be creative but the man won't hear it That big boss man, he's trying to crush my spirit
Got these chains on me,
They won't let me fly
Got these chains on me,
Won't tell me why
Got these chains on me
Mister, hear my song
Don't say imangination is morally wrong
No, they won't let us dance or bang that gong,
”Cause they say imagination is morally wrong.”