In spite of a compulsion to check in an unhealthy number of times, I'm not really a great fan of facebook. It seems generous to call much of it filler, even if I follow up on quite a lot of it. Though I hate myself for it, so that's ok.
But from time to time, one way or another, it chucks up something good, and this article on creativity was one. I'm not going to repeat great chunks of it here, but very briefly it dealt with composer Aaron Copeland being interviewed for "The Creative Experience" by Abt and Rosner. I found myself nodding away at nearly all the things being said. One was that sometimes you find yourself wanting to be creative but with nothing ready to create - been there, often. It can make me feel I have no imagination and should give up Now and Forever. Another was that if a piece of work doesn't please you, it doesn't matter whether it pleases anyone else or not, it just won't do. I think it can be a result of the previous problem - trying to push ahead with an idea that isn't right. Though it didn't mention the 'yeah, but put it away for six months and then have another look before you chuck it for good - you might find you feel quite differently' theory. Works surprisingly often, though not by any means always. It didn't address, either, that sometimes you might not like something initially because it turned out wrong for what you wanted, and you're too close to see yet if it's any good regardless of that.
The article also talked about an incubation period for ideas - figured that one out - and Copeland said about having to get things down while the fires of creation were burning, because afterwards it would all be gone. That too had a ring of familiarity - it's all so clear when you just can't sleep because it's searing grooves into your mind, but when you settle down a couple of days later, now that you think you have the time, it's nowhere to be found or is just a misty memory waving a cheery farewell. Ah me.
But from time to time, one way or another, it chucks up something good, and this article on creativity was one. I'm not going to repeat great chunks of it here, but very briefly it dealt with composer Aaron Copeland being interviewed for "The Creative Experience" by Abt and Rosner. I found myself nodding away at nearly all the things being said. One was that sometimes you find yourself wanting to be creative but with nothing ready to create - been there, often. It can make me feel I have no imagination and should give up Now and Forever. Another was that if a piece of work doesn't please you, it doesn't matter whether it pleases anyone else or not, it just won't do. I think it can be a result of the previous problem - trying to push ahead with an idea that isn't right. Though it didn't mention the 'yeah, but put it away for six months and then have another look before you chuck it for good - you might find you feel quite differently' theory. Works surprisingly often, though not by any means always. It didn't address, either, that sometimes you might not like something initially because it turned out wrong for what you wanted, and you're too close to see yet if it's any good regardless of that.
The article also talked about an incubation period for ideas - figured that one out - and Copeland said about having to get things down while the fires of creation were burning, because afterwards it would all be gone. That too had a ring of familiarity - it's all so clear when you just can't sleep because it's searing grooves into your mind, but when you settle down a couple of days later, now that you think you have the time, it's nowhere to be found or is just a misty memory waving a cheery farewell. Ah me.
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