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1. The architecture world has this term *starchitecture* - meaning a focus on an individual as a lone genius creator - to the exclusion of reality.
#Design and most fields have the same problem. It's in our romanticized history of what creativity means. And how stories work.
#Design and most fields have the same problem. It's in our romanticized history of what creativity means. And how stories work.
2. Our brains really like stories - and simple stories are easy to learn, remember and share. Hero myths (insert fav. Campbell reference here) work because our brains like them...
...but not necessarily because the (creative) world works the way these stories tell us it does.
...but not necessarily because the (creative) world works the way these stories tell us it does.
3. Shows like Netflix's Abstract (Art of Design) focus on individuals - why? it's a "better" story. We can focus on ONE person and ONE point of view. All of the good things about whatever gets made we can attribute to a singular identity.
This is much simpler than the reality..
This is much simpler than the reality..
4. Every architect, designer, musician and inventor, with rare exceptions, had various kinds of collaborators. And influences.
But to include this information fractures the potency of the story. Our admiration is diffused across a group. Romantic/Emotional responses decline.
But to include this information fractures the potency of the story. Our admiration is diffused across a group. Romantic/Emotional responses decline.
5. You see this too in team sports - as a kid I loved Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, two stars who were great team players... yet, whose poster did I put on my wall? I had one of each of them - but not any of them with their team.
Why? Emotion/Romance is easier in the singular
Why? Emotion/Romance is easier in the singular
6. This plays out in every form of storytelling - journalism, non-fiction books, documentaries. If popularity of any kind is the goal, shifting of emphasis to individuals has to happen.
Which means the most popular stories tend to be ones that are looser with the facts.
Which means the most popular stories tend to be ones that are looser with the facts.
7. Films suffer from this the most - as a visual medium watching meeting after meeting (which is how nearly anything gets made in real life) isn't good viewing. Neither is actually watching someone write a song or a novel. The reality of creation is rarely made visible.
8. The lesson is: movies and media about creation are excellent for inspiration and motivation.
But you must find better sources for observing the craft, the discipline, the uncertainty, and the relationships required to achieve what the movie/book/show was theoretically about.
But you must find better sources for observing the craft, the discipline, the uncertainty, and the relationships required to achieve what the movie/book/show was theoretically about.
9. The gap between the romantic experience of creativity and the real one is WIDE - and it's hard to close it, which makes me sad.
But the trap is, popular resources on creativity are going to play on the same hero myths as the movies do.. because that's what our brains like!
But the trap is, popular resources on creativity are going to play on the same hero myths as the movies do.. because that's what our brains like!
10. I offered my advice on this gap and what to do it about it in this talk, which was the basis for my most recent book - The Dance of The Possible.
