John Cleese On Creativity – Lecture Notes | The Great Acting Blog
Cleese says there are five factors needed for creativity: 1. Space. 2. Time. 3. Time 4. Confidence. 5. Humour.
1. Says we can’t become playful and therefore creative if we’re under our usual pressures. We have to create space for ourselves away from those demands. That means sealing ourselves off. We have to create a space where we will not be disturbed.
2. It’s not enough just to create space, we have to create the space for a specific period of time. At the end of the time, our normal life will start again. It’s only when we have a specific moment when the space starts and when it stops, that we can seal ourselves off from the everyday closed mode in which we habitually operate. He quotes a Dutch historian, Johan Huizhinga; “play is distinct from ordinary life both as to locality and duration. This is it’s main characteristic, it’s secludedness, it’s limitedness. Play begins, then at a certain moment it is over. Otherwise, it’s not play” . Says we create an oasis of quiet for ourselves by setting boundaries of space and of time. Says that if our mind starts racing with things to do, just don’t take it very seriously and our mind will quieten down. Suggests an hour and a half in this oasis, 30 minutes to quieten down and an hour of work (if you’re lucky). Says it’s better to do 3 x 90 minute sessions over different days of the week, rather than doing one big four and half hour session in one morning.
3. Says that the longer we stay with a creative problem, the more original our output will be. If we take the first solution that comes along, it’s unlikely to be original. It’s about being able to tolerate that anxiety when we haven’t yet solved a problem. We take the first decision that comes along, not because it’s necessarily the best decision but because it makes us feel better. The most creative people learn to tolerate the discomfort for longer. They’re more creative because they put in the most pondering time. He suggests that before we take a decision, we should always ask ourselves the question: “when does this decision have to be taken?” And having answered that, you defer the decision til then in order to give ourselves maximum pondering time, which leads to the most creative decision.
4. Says nothing stops us being creative more than a fear of making a mistake. The essence of playfulness is an openness to anything that may happen, and the feeling that whatever happens, it’s ok. You cannot be frightened if you think moving in some direction might be wrong. Know that while we’re creative nothing is wrong.
5. Says humour gets us into a creative mode quicker than anything else. Humour is an essential part of spontaneity, and an essential part of creativity. Says that once you’re in your space time oasis, giggle all you want.
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