My first thought on the quadrant - "ehmmmm... I think I'm in a middle." One creative process can draw from all types. Bach might sound the most alien to me, but that's probably because I usually don't know the rules that well on this very explicit level, hah - well, maybe with writing, but even here, I often make spontaneous turns that lead me away from the initial purpose.
What I take from all this is a confirmation that creativity is innate to us. Nobody can say that "they're not creative". A few months ago, I saw a documentary from a guy that interviews artists around the world on the question of creativity. And while it was interesting to see different perspectives, in the end, I was bothered precisely by the fact that he limited the definition of creativity to arts. What about the creativity of people that survive on $1 a day? What about creative problem-solving? What about those who build houses and bridges out of scratch, or re-invent the purpose of tools to meet their own needs? Or are able to imagine social systems based on different rules?
The decisive point, I think, is if (and how) you engage with your creativity. Are you curious about new outcomes? Are you brave enough to make a decision and initiate an experiment, taking on the risk that it might fail? Are you willing to put your time and energy into that?
Our current systems are set on making us believe "normal people" are not creative, precisely because you can't really control people that are conscious about their creativity. It takes you out of tired, helpless consumerism into empowerment of creation. I don't know if Dietrich explicitly talks about creativity outside of "the arts", but I think his framework might be useful to think about it as well.
(... back to my point about writing - I didn't start this comment with an intention of writing a mini-manifesto, haha.)
Yes, he does! In fact, many of the tests researchers try to use to “measure creativity” involve actions outside of the arts, like coming up with novel solutions to problems. But yes, I’m glad your takeaway is that creativity is innate to all of us, maybe just in different forms because that was my big takeaway too! Thanks for the mini-manifesto!
A friend gave me the Oblique Strategies cards as a christmas present a few years back. I still haven’t gone through all of them. Not because i don’t want to but because i want to reseve them for when i’m in a pinch and need some guidance. Like a tarot reading of creativity.
I think i fluctuate between those four categories in every song i make. But i definately go through an insane amount of iterations on every project. Sometimes spanning years. My latest song is mix version 26 😄
Apparently Eno used to put one his pocket at the start of a day, and then randomly pull it out in the studio at some point and just see what it conjures up. Might be useful, might not
I tried to pigeonhole myself to be simpatico with any of the greats you mentioned - Bach, Cohen, Coltrane and Eno but to be honest, I’m not like them (in more ways than one), including their creativity styles. I typically begin my composing sessions with no tune whirling around in my head. Like so many other hobbyists, I tap out some notes on the keyboard and then assess whether it has potential. If it does, I continue on, buffeted by this brief moment of accomplishment. If those notes don’t work, I’ll try a variation or another random handful of notes. Eventually, I end up with something I like. So maybe there’s at least a fifth or sixth style block for us lesser known composers.
By the way, that bedroom mural is out of this world! Absolutely cool!
Last summer we had 3 generations around a campfire one night and decided to tell stories. Orignator would start with a simple descriptive sentence and the on to each person with the originator having the last sentence. You got to see another side of your family and their thought process. It was delightful and interesting, like to think I was a bit of both Cohen and Coltrane at the time. 🙂
Fascinating breakdown of the four different types of creativity! The distinction between them is really insightful.
My first thought on the quadrant - "ehmmmm... I think I'm in a middle." One creative process can draw from all types. Bach might sound the most alien to me, but that's probably because I usually don't know the rules that well on this very explicit level, hah - well, maybe with writing, but even here, I often make spontaneous turns that lead me away from the initial purpose.
What I take from all this is a confirmation that creativity is innate to us. Nobody can say that "they're not creative". A few months ago, I saw a documentary from a guy that interviews artists around the world on the question of creativity. And while it was interesting to see different perspectives, in the end, I was bothered precisely by the fact that he limited the definition of creativity to arts. What about the creativity of people that survive on $1 a day? What about creative problem-solving? What about those who build houses and bridges out of scratch, or re-invent the purpose of tools to meet their own needs? Or are able to imagine social systems based on different rules?
The decisive point, I think, is if (and how) you engage with your creativity. Are you curious about new outcomes? Are you brave enough to make a decision and initiate an experiment, taking on the risk that it might fail? Are you willing to put your time and energy into that?
Our current systems are set on making us believe "normal people" are not creative, precisely because you can't really control people that are conscious about their creativity. It takes you out of tired, helpless consumerism into empowerment of creation. I don't know if Dietrich explicitly talks about creativity outside of "the arts", but I think his framework might be useful to think about it as well.
(... back to my point about writing - I didn't start this comment with an intention of writing a mini-manifesto, haha.)
Let's stay creative.
Yes, he does! In fact, many of the tests researchers try to use to “measure creativity” involve actions outside of the arts, like coming up with novel solutions to problems. But yes, I’m glad your takeaway is that creativity is innate to all of us, maybe just in different forms because that was my big takeaway too! Thanks for the mini-manifesto!
A friend gave me the Oblique Strategies cards as a christmas present a few years back. I still haven’t gone through all of them. Not because i don’t want to but because i want to reseve them for when i’m in a pinch and need some guidance. Like a tarot reading of creativity.
I think i fluctuate between those four categories in every song i make. But i definately go through an insane amount of iterations on every project. Sometimes spanning years. My latest song is mix version 26 😄
Apparently Eno used to put one his pocket at the start of a day, and then randomly pull it out in the studio at some point and just see what it conjures up. Might be useful, might not
I tried to pigeonhole myself to be simpatico with any of the greats you mentioned - Bach, Cohen, Coltrane and Eno but to be honest, I’m not like them (in more ways than one), including their creativity styles. I typically begin my composing sessions with no tune whirling around in my head. Like so many other hobbyists, I tap out some notes on the keyboard and then assess whether it has potential. If it does, I continue on, buffeted by this brief moment of accomplishment. If those notes don’t work, I’ll try a variation or another random handful of notes. Eventually, I end up with something I like. So maybe there’s at least a fifth or sixth style block for us lesser known composers.
By the way, that bedroom mural is out of this world! Absolutely cool!
To me, that sounds a bit like the Leonard Cohen approach I described! You put something out there, then iterate iterate iterate.
Last summer we had 3 generations around a campfire one night and decided to tell stories. Orignator would start with a simple descriptive sentence and the on to each person with the originator having the last sentence. You got to see another side of your family and their thought process. It was delightful and interesting, like to think I was a bit of both Cohen and Coltrane at the time. 🙂
That’s genius… I want to try it. Sounds like a lot of fun, and might devolve into hysterics at points