ABSTRACT
The attraction of contemporary creative work has been attributed to its association with the fine arts, and particularly the image of an individual creative maker, such as an artist or 'auteur'. The association suggests the possibilities of self-expression and self-actualization, the latter being loosely equated to artistic fulfilment. The association with the arts is also the source of another meaning for creative work, as an activity and occupation which is different to ordinary work. One partial solution lies in a project of self-repair. One attraction of an open orientation is that it is optimistic: the unspecified future is full of promise and potential and there are always more possibilities. Pressure for a career to progress in stages towards greater earning and security was particularly strong from family members in the conventional professions who are, again, probably describable as 'middle class' or 'upper middle class'.
