ENG133

Originality, varyingly described and likely socially constructed, is linked to creativity and defined as the first appearance of an idea. It is a term relevant to the arts, science, and cultural history and augmented by concepts both tied and in opposition to it: individuality, authority, imitation, genius, creativity, and plagiarism.
“Inventing Originality” focuses on romanticism as the historical beginning of the concept. It examines originality expressed by imitation in classical and early modern texts, queries Baudrillard's simulacrum appearing in twenty-first century experiments in poetry and fiction, Dadaist poetry, and postmodernist efforts to randomize thought, and presents the impact of British imperialism, American immigration policy, and university gender preferences on the scientific discoveries of Ramanujan, Charles Steinmetz, and Rosalind Franklin. Finally, originality is seen in teamwork, especially by those practicing accessibility and inclusion.