Creativity techniques

Creativity techniques are methods that encourage creative actions, whether in the arts or sciences. They focus on a variety of aspects of creativity, including techniques for idea generation and divergent thinking, methods of re-framing problems, changes in the affective environment and so on. They can be used as part of problem solving, artistic expression, or therapy.

Some techniques require groups of two or more people while other techniques can be accomplished alone. These methods include word games, written exercises and different types of improvisation, or algorithms for approaching problems. Aleatory techniques exploiting randomness are also common.

Aleatory techniques

Main article: Aleatoricism

Aleatoricism is the incorporation of chance (random elements) into the process of creation, especially the creation of art or media. Aleatoricism is commonly found in music, art, and literature, particularly in poetry. In film, Andy Voda made a movie in 1979 called "Chance Chants", which he produced by a flip of a coin or roll of a dice. In music, John Cage, an avant-garde musician, composed music by superimposing star maps on blank sheet music, by rolling dice and preparing open ended scores that depended on the spontaneous decisions of the performers. (1) Other ways of practicing randomness include coin tossing, picking something out of a hat, or selecting random words from a dictionary.

In short, aleatoricism is a way to introduce new thoughts or ideas into a creative process.

Improvisation

Main article: improvisation

Improvisation is a creative process which can be spoken, written, or composed without prior preparation.[1] Improvisation, also called extemporization, can lead to the discovery of new ways to act, new patterns of thought and practices, or new structures. Improvisation is used in the creation of music, theater, and other various forms. Many artists also use improvisational techniques to help their creative flow.

The following are two significant methods:

Each type of improvisation improves the thinking and acting skills of the actor, and this is done by using no practice. A similar set of techniques is called alienation since one of its many techniques uses actors that haven't rehearsed or even read the play. Improvisation is an acting technique during which actors make up a storyline, start and end on the spot, and try their best to keep in character.

Problem solving

In problem-solving contexts, the random-word creativity technique is perhaps the simplest method. A person confronted with a problem is presented with a randomly generated word, in the hopes of a solution arising from any associations between the word and the problem. A random image, sound, or article can be used instead of a random word as a kind of creativity goad or provocation.[4][5]

There are many tools and methodologies to support creativity:

Distraction

A study has found that non-demanding distractions can improve the number of uses that subjects can come up with for an object ("unusual uses task").[6]

Walking

In 2014, a study found that walking increased creativity.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Improvisation | Define Improvisation at Dictionary.com
  2. ↑ Archived July 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ jazz improvisation : music improvisation : jazz theory
  4. ↑ More On Idea Generation Tools and Techniques. IdeaFlow: Discussion about innovation and creativity - new products, strategy, open innovation, commercialization of technologies...
  5. ↑ "Idea Generation, Creativity and Incentives" (PDF). Mitsloan.mit.edu. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  6. ↑ "How To Waste Time Properly - Issue 7: Waste - Nautilus". Nautilus. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
  7. ↑ Oppezzo, Marily; Schwartz, Daniel L. "Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking.". Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 40 (4): 1142–1152. doi:10.1037/a0036577.
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