Nature Vs. Nurture

There is a gift, something inborn, that separates those with simply just skill and those with exceptional talent. One of the popular debates concerning "nature vs. nurture" is that of which whether or not people are born with natural artistic talent or is it something that has to be developed. This paper will prove that exceptional talent that stands out from all others is that of which one is born with.

The brain is divided into two halves, known as the left and the right side. The left side is responsible for leaning processes such as number and language. It also deals with processing logic. However, the right side of the brain takes a more holistic view of information and enjoys patterns, thus the right side of the brain deals with mostly all creativity such as one using feelings, imagination, fantasy-based, risk taking, philosophy and religion, symbols and images, just to name a few of right brain functions.

"Artistic skill is learned. Artistic talent is natural. Anyone can learn to draw, be a craftsman, an illustrator. Being an artist, being great at it, requires more. It requires talents," says John Devera, which supports the nature theory of artistic talent. It has been discovered that the corpus callosum, the part of the brain that connects the right and left side, is somewhat thicker in people whose right side of the brain is dominant. People who understand their creativity fully are those who use both sides of their brain more efficiently.

Dr, Karen Fitch, of Stanford University, would argue that artistic talent and ability is somewhat nature, for one has to hone their talent; however genetics play larger roles in great and exceptional ability. Fitch argues that without training and opportunities, artists and athletes would not have much success, but without the help of genetics, they would have an even harder time.

Some examples of those who did not have any exposure to art till late in life are that of Vincent Van Gogh. He came from a family with seemingly no direct artistic talent and describes his childhood as gloomy and sterile. After his exposure as an art dealer, it stirred in him a longing to be an artist. After a seemingly mental breakdown, he innovated and brought to the world a new and yet violent style. However, though he was exposed to the idea of art in order to become an artist his natural and exceptional ability is what made him stand out and become known as one of the greatest artists of all time. Another example to support the nature side of artistic ability would be that of Vassily Kandinsky. He is known to be on of the most important artists in the last four centuries, yet he had no interest in art during his childhood and had no one in his immediate family that one would assume displayed artistic temperament. Though he did attend art school and learn the tricks of his trade, similar to Van Gogh, it was his own natural artistic innovations that made him into a towering figure in the art world.

Disorders such as savants also help to support the theory that artistic talent is something that is inborn. People diagnosed with savants have what is seemingly

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