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H. P. Lovecraft

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H. P. Lovecraft: A Creative Case Study It is safe to say that most who enter a specific field seek to leave a lasting impact upon that will last long after they are dead and gone. Obviously, not all end up so fortunate; to create such a powerful legacy, one must be truly innovative and bring something truly unique to the table. In the field of creativity studies there is a model of understanding creativity called the Four C Model. In the article Beyond Big and Little: The Four C Model of Creativity Big C creativity is stated to be made up of clear-cut, eminent creative contributions (2) In this model, individuals like those previously described are considered “Big C” creatives. There have been many individuals in history that have gown …show more content…

While he had a relatively short career due to his early death in 1937 at the age of 46, his unique style and approach to horror, as well as the mythos most of his stories were based upon, have created a legacy that has lasted through the decades and continues to affect horror, fantasy, and science-fiction writers to this day. His reported writing skill and modern fame are enough of a draw for any who study creativity. There are many aspects of Lovecraft’s life and work that could rightfully earn him a spot in the Big C category. For instance, Big C individuals are, typically, recognized for their brilliance posthumously; Lovecraft was virtually unknown as a writer when he was alive and did not gain recognition until sometime after his death. He was actually unable to support himself solely through his writing and had to live frugally while living off a quickly shrinking inheritance. Lovecraft is also validated as Big C by how his work has affected the horror genre. One of the most notable affects has actually been the creation of an entire sub-genre known as Lovecraftian Horror. This sub-genre, like Lovecraft’s works, largely focuses on cosmic horror, the unknown and unknowable, and the fragility of sanity. Not only does his sub-genre continue to thrive, but Lovecraft’s work inspires many other authors to this day, notably the contemporary …show more content…

As previously stated, Lovecraft had very little success as a writer in his time. He did have a self-published magazine called The Conservative and several of his short stories were published in the horror magazine Weird Tales, but beyond this there was little to his career. After his death, authors that he was close friends with championed his works and even borrowed elements from his creations. His works steadily grew in popularity over time, but he still did not receive much in terms of accolades. He did receive a memorial in his native Providence, Rhode Island but little else beyond that. His achievements are based in what he left

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