ABSTRACT
This chapter explains a distinctive theoretical and empirical contribution to understandings of the contemporary creative worker. The term creative' has been adopted as an umbrella category, following the broad policy definition of the creative industries and also the expanded reference of supposedly creative occupations which has been noted as another contemporary phenomenon. Contemporary creative work is said to be strongly associated with established images of the individual creative maker or artist. McRobbie refers to 'the romantic image of the creative artist' as an individual who claims freedom for 'the pursuit of experiences and emotions which were otherwise seen as impediments to the great march of rationality, reason and bureaucracy' associated with 'European modernity'. The multiple life relationships which provide resources and audiences for a novice creative's identification are a significant source of conflicts. However, the same relationships which provide welcome support could also produce pressures.
