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John Cleese explains the secret to reaching a creative state of mind.
Watch this video of the English actor, writer, comedian, film producer, and all‒around creative genius, John Cleese explaining what he’s learned about creativity, writing, and problem solving.
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An invitation to explore the ecstatic truth.
“Sometimes real life doesn’t give you all the right material,” writes Jonathan Harris, “So you have to invent something that’s true to the feeling you had, the feeling you’re trying to get across, even if the thing you invent didn’t actually happen. It’s an idea from Werner Herzog. He calls it the Ecstatic Truth.”
Jonathan continues, “A lot of people don’t understand that…They get all hung up on details. Did this happen, did that happen. But it’s not always about what happened.
“Sometimes it’s more about how you felt when you were in it, what it made you think of, what it could’ve been, or what it almost was. It’s less about what happened, and more about how it really was, which is something else and something more.”
A photograph that has been digitally manipulated may not accurately reflect what was captured per say, but it may better represent what the photographer or editor felt that moment was like.
The same could be said of countless books, blogs, designs, and the stories we tell one another.
Think of the stories you tell or the photographs you take. Are you trying to capture the wrong thing? Rather than trying to capture a moment, as it is, what if you captured the feeling or experience instead?
Photo by Kevin Dean.
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A world not quite our own.
Somewhere in the heart of Brooklyn, NY, is an old deli. Decrepit and dirty, the deli sits on the corner of a small street, void of any functioning automobiles or beating hearts.
This isn’t your typical deli, though. In‒fact, you couldn’t stop by and buy anything from this deli. You wouldn’t even fit in the door. This deli is a part of an art installation titled “Trainset Ghetto” by the artist Peter Feigenbaum.
Peter takes pieces from miniature train‒set collections and adds a bit of his own touch with materials such as cast plaster, polystyrene plastic, chipboard, basswood, green foam, and tempera. The installation isn’t a unique reflection of the real world, as much as it is a powerful ‒ and yet tiny ‒ sampling of how the artist views the world.
In an interview with The Morning news, Peter explains what inspired him to create a miniature, ghetto world:
I guess I have this fascination with urban wildness–it’s a way for me to objectify an urban experience that’s quite different from my current scenario. Nostalgia for an era that I never experienced? I was also inspired by a lot of location-heavy graffiti and crime films from the late 1970s/early ’80s as well. I also have a dark sense of humor!
Often we feel as though art should imitate the real world as it surrounds us, as it’s defined in history books. But through creativity and intuition ‒ and a dark sense of humor ‒ Peter has created a world not quite all his own, and not quite historically accurate. It’s something unique to outsiders. It’s something original and inspiring and simply fun to look at.
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26 of the best creative people on Twitter.
Twitter is a powerful resource for finding people who share ideas and inspiration.
It’s no surprise that creative thinkers, designers, artists, writers, and educators have literally flocked to Twitter in order to connect with one‒another and share ideas and insights. With over 12 million people using Twitter every day, finding those who tweet the most inspirational, creative insights isn’t easy.
Here’s a list of 26 of the best creative people on Twitter today, so you don’t have to spend days looking for them:
Fred Wilson
A VC from New York City, Fred always links to insightful and entertaining stuff.
Mark Mulligan
Vice President and Research Director with Forrester Research.
Maria Popova
Interestingness curator & semi-secret geek obsessed with design, storytelling & TED.
Mccasal
Digital Creative Director, Webdesigner and usability advocate.
Atley Kasky
Likes letters and the equally vital spaces between them.
Corey Thompson
Art, Advertising, & Design dude.
Official Mfg. Co.
Thing Makers making things.
Frank Chimero
Illustration. Design. Web. Model United Nations, Russia. Yankee Racers, founder.
Noah Sparks
Igniting potential in families, learning & creativity with technology & games.
Pelle Martin
PELLE. Creative Director in2media.
Oran Parker
Cranks out the creative goods, as well as a decent dose of truth from time to time.
Dan
Brands post rewards for big ideas, Creatives own their ideas until they get paid for them.
Mike Brown
Catalyzing innovative success.
Jessica Tillyer
Writes stories. Designs ideas. Likes you.
Ana ottman
Obsessed with entrepreneurship, creativity, and self-care. Feisty feminist.
Scott Belsky
Leading Behance and the99percent in the noble pursuit to organize the creative world.
Daniel Pink
Author of DRIVE: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.
Patrick Algrim
Principal at P41 Studios. Connoisseur of the human‒centered revolution!
Benjamin Reece
Director, entrepreneur, & father. Founder of film and digital studio Deltree, New Orleans.
Tim Hurson
Founder ThinkX, founding director Facilitators w/o Borders, author Think Better.
Mark McGuinness
Writer, coach, trainer, entrepreneur. Helping you create remarkable things.
Matthew May
OPEN Forum Idea Hub columnist, design thinker and writer, seeking elegance in any realm.
Chuck Green
Communications designer, author (Random House, Peachpit, Rockport).
99%
It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. Think tank on execution in a creative world.
Ben Pieratt
Yeah, just follow him.
David Armano
Communicator, designer, strategist, thinker, doer, dad, biker, karaoke junkie, and imperfect soul.
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Find inspiration, get over yourself.
If you’ve ever come up with a really creative idea, you know how great it can feel to be truly creative.
When you think up a creative idea that is really remarkable, it’s difficult to view the idea from a truthful perspective, because you were able to come up with something creative. Why would someone like you need to worry about finding creative inspiration when you know you can come up with such great ideas?
Unfortunately having an ego doesn’t help build creativity, it actually hinders it.
If you’re feeling as though you are a creative genius ‒ and even if you really are ‒ then you’re unlikely to perceive potential ideas around you. If you’re so focused on you, you past successes, or your perceived creativity, you’re not as likely to question the world. By allowing yourself to believe that you are really creative, you’re missing a valuable opportunity to grow your creativity. You’re undoubtedly missing chances to find creative inspiration.
Creativity can’t grow unless you have room for it in your mind. And the fact is: you will always have room to grow. There is no “peak” when it comes to creativity. You can always be more creative.
So do yourself a favor and get over yourself. Leave your ego in bed today. Understand that you will never know enough about the world to not constantly be seeking creative inspiration.
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