The first of its kind, this book is an overview of systems based research into creativity. It focuses on empirical studies into creativity that use the systems approach. Uniquely, the authors in this edited collection incorporate not just individual creators but also the social and cultural contexts in which they work and in doing so account for the creative system in action. Looking past Romantic approaches the authors explore a rational explanation of creativity across a range of fields including music, journalism, fiction and non-fiction writing, film, theatre, the arts and design, and digital media. Showcasing innovative research into the creative system in action across various forms of cultural production, the book will attract readers from cultural studies, sociology, psychology, communication and media studies, and the arts. Undergraduate students taking courses related to creative practice or creative industries will also find it valuable.