Every individual has an IDENTITY. So too does every country. What other country has had its identity changed so RADICALLY as america?

Gargoyles originally had two purposes: as rainwater spouts draining the roof, and for scaring away evil spirits.

Pick out of that what you wish...

Gargoyles were invented in times when people were not only religious but also very superstitious, and afraid of all sorts of things. I don't think the Church believed in evil spirits but did believe in Hell and the Devil, and probably found it impossible to wipe out deeply-entrenched, popular ideas about evil spirits.

The rain spout function was to throw the water clear of the base of the walls, before the builders had long pipes available. The gargoyles are still there but in later years were often given normal down-pipes to spit into, and nowadays they are regarded as harmless eccentricities that add to the charm and interest of the building. Mediaeval masons and woodworkers were also fond of adding discrete, quirky little carvings to the interiors of churches and cathedrals they built, as well as the "official" ones like ornate window frames and statues of saints and abbots. It was probably their way of adding a personal touch to their work.

I am not sure how you can give a definite answer on creativity. If you wish to create anything you might be under an obligation to do so for another's purposes, usually in a professional setting. Whether commissioned or by your own imagination though, you are constrained by the methods and materials used, but creativity does also mean understanding how to use them to best advantage.