Aleatory creativity: The role of random constraints

OnderzoeksoutputAcademic

Samenvatting

The role of constraints in the creative process is complex. One specific kind of constraint, which has been employed by artists and scientists to stimulate their creativity, is the deliberate use of random or aleatory (chance-based) elements. For example, painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci extolled the benefits of staring at the random ‘patterns’ in brickwork, composer John Cage made use of star maps to start his compositional process, and pop artist David Bowie used a computer program called the ‘verbasizer’ to create random word strings as a starting point for lyrical ideas. However, although such anecdotal evidence suggests that these approaches may be effective, they have not been clearly conceptualized, and remain understudied. In this chapter, we therefore aim to put forward a definition of random constraints, provide a brief overview of historical and anecdotal evidence for the use (and purported effectiveness) of some aleatory creativity techniques, and review the scarce literature on aleatory influences on the creative process. Subsequently, we will argue that random constraints have three core characteristics. First, because they are not meaningfully related to the task or context, they are remote. Second, because of their remoteness, random constraints are cognitively demanding. Third, because random constraints are typically self-imposed, they do not threaten autonomy.
Originele taal-2English
TitelConstraints in Creativity
RedacteurenCatrinel Tromp, Robert Sternberg, Don Ambrose
UitgeverijBrill
Hoofdstuk8
Pagina's145-165
Aantal pagina's21
ISBN van elektronische versie978-90-04-70723-8
ISBN van geprinte versie978-90-04-70722-1, 978-90-04-70721-4
DOI's
StatusPublished - 2024

Publicatie series

NaamAdvances in Creativity and Giftedness
UitgeverijBrill
Volume13
ISSN van geprinte versie2543-0416

Vingerafdruk

Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Aleatory creativity: The role of random constraints'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Citeer dit