Strands of Genius: Are Crows Better Than Humans, The First Novel About the Creative Process, If AI Made It It Can't Be Copywrited

Guest curated by Lisa Prince, Founder of School of Ideas

Oct 19, 2023

:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, LISA PRINCE ::

LOCATION: Portland, OR

Lisa Prince here! Human, founder of School of Ideas, a (mostly) devoted mother and wife, and a high performing pet owner. Have known Rosie + Faris since the Ordovician Age.

Imagine a world where only a few chosen people can eat ice-cream. And they have to do it with their hands. And no one questions whether this messy and unpleasant decision is the right one. This is how we currently approach creativity. For the last seven years I’ve been teaching creative companies how to be even more creative. And on that journey I’ve discovered a shocking truth. Creativity has become exclusive and difficult.

I’m regularly standing in front of fifty people in a cool, culturally switched-on company. I ask how many people are expected to have an idea for a living, and everyone raises their hand. Then I ask, how many people have been taught how to have an idea and the number of hands shrinks to two. Just two! Both of whom have been to art school.

No-one is teaching people how to have an idea. And despite thousands of books written about creativity, no-one is any clearer about what ideas or creativity even mean. People are either working way too hard to have ideas, or have opted out of creativity all together. Leading to two very scary thoughts…

Are there more people in the world working on their biceps than on their ability to have an idea?

Are there more people in the world helping AI have ideas than helping humans?

How did we get here? And why are we not talking about this?

I think it’s because we consistently tell ourselves five tall tales about creativity that actually poison our ability to have ideas. Here’s the tales to look out for, how they hurt us and how you might confront them.

Tall Tale #1. Creativity = art

Nope! Art involves creativity, but not all creativity involves art. From early education to creativity in the workplace, we apply the rules of art to the world of creative problem solving, which leads to creative insecurity and lots of shitty advice. We need to more clearly define the different types of creativity and the different approaches each needs.

Tall Tale #2. Creativity = the preserve of geniuses

Nope! We all have a creative problem solving superpower that needs nurturing. It’s actually the superpower that made Homo Sapiens the lead human. But our ancient ancestors taught and nurtured this superpower, now we just wait for geniuses to arrive with it. We outsource too much creativity to too few people. This is because 500 years ago Michelangelo created the “Genius Myth” which is still our blueprint for creativity today. It’s time to revisit our ancient ways and write a new one.

Tall Tale #3: Creativity thrives in chaos.

Nope! Creative problem solving thrives with the right structure. And rest. We glorify creative chaos at a huge cost to our personal lives and mental health. We don’t need more chaos, we need more helpful structures; that free our creativity vs. crushing it.

Tall Tale #4. Creativity is all out about the AHA moment.

Nope! Creative problem solving is about being prepared for the AHA moment. All the creativity advice today misses this crucial step. How can you rethink the AHA moment, see through all the bullshit advice and have more useful practices to unlock break-throughs?

Tall Tale #5: Creativity has been democratized.

Nope! We think that because so many creative tools are available on the internet, then everyone can just go out and be creative. But 30 years into the internet creativity is actually a privilege. Creative problem solving today comes with no structure, no direction, and too much emphasis on risk. Served with a side dish of starving artist. With these conditions, only people with the most privilege can afford to take the leap. How can we truly democratize creativity and pass the mic to new voices?

I’m on a journey to confront these tall tales and to tell better, healthier ones. If you’d like to hop on board, please subscribe to my newsletter “Here’s the Idea”, I’d love to have you.

Let’s all raise our hands!

Lisa Prince

Editor’s Note (Genius Steals): Lisa is one of those friends that we don’t get to see nearly as often as we’d like, but every interaction we have with her leaves us feeling energized and inspired. She’s one of those people who practices what she preaches, especially when it comes to her mindset around abundance. While we could easily be classified as competitors, our friendship has been collaborative, open and honest. (A rising tide floats all boats!) Oh and have we mentioned she’s one smart cookie?! We’re so excited to have you here today, Lisa, and look forward to hugging it out next, whenever that may be :)

:: THE LINKS ::

ARE CROWS BETTER THAN HUMANS?

It's easier to train crows to pick up human trash, than it is to stop humans from dropping it. This is a pilot project from Sweden that's training crows to pick up cigarette butts, in return for food. Creative problem solving in action! (The Guardian)

THE FIRST NOVEL ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS?

Few books capture, so honestly, the challenges and joys of the creative process. Love, gaming and the highs and lows of creative collaboration. If you want to live inside any of these experiences, read this book. (Gabrielle Zevin)

IF AI MADE IT, IT CAN'T BE COPYRIGHTED

If it's AI generated, then it can't be copyrighted. That's a new ruling out of an August copyright case in Washington DC. Fascinating ruling with implications for how we collaborate with and approach AI. (TheVerge)

Looking for more from Lisa Prince? Coming Friday, look for an interview from her in your inbox!

:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::

:: Game :: Catan. Two brick for one stone?

:: City :: Edinburgh. That Castle...

:: Book :: Wuthering Heights...Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy I've come home

:: Podcast :: Enjoying Dwarkesh (formerly Lunar Society) although I only understand half of it right now

:: Album :: Anything by Dolly Parton.

:: RAISE YOUR HANDS ::

I’m on a journey to confront these tall tales and to tell better, healthier ones. If you’d like to hop on board, please subscribe to my newsletter “Here’s the Idea”, I’d love to have you.

Let's all raise our hands,
Lisa Prince

Strands of Genius is currently read by more than 15,000 subscribers. Support us by sponsoring an issue, encouraging friends or colleagues to subscribe.

It's called Genius Steals because we believe ideas are new combinations and that nothing can come from nothing. But copying is lazy. We believe the best way to innovate is to look at the best of that which came before and combine those elements into new solutions.

Co-Founders Faris & Rosie are award-winning strategists and creative directors, writers, consultants and public speakers who have been living on the road/runway since March 2013, working with companies all over the world. Our Director of Operations is nomadic like us, our accounting team is based out of Washington, our company is registered in Tennessee, and our collaborators are all over the world. Being nomadic allows us to go wherever clients need us to be, and to be inspired by the world in between.

Hit reply and let’s talk about how we might be able to work together :)

Strands of Genius