Exploring Originality and Cliche - two activities

[Paul Levy]

A number of metaphors can be useful in exploring the notion of "originality" at work. Originality is also a concept relevant to the concept of improvisation.

Is originality possible/desirable?

Activity 1

In front of the group (or in pairs) someone holds an imaginary paintbrush and starts to paint something in their mind's eye. The other person simply describes what they see, imagining what it is. Observe the reactions of the painter, their brush strokes and then compare what was in the eye of the painter compared to the describer.

How close were the pictures?

Where did the images come from?

How much of the describer/commentator's images and description came from the painter's movements, mimed brush strokes, gestures, stance and how much was in their own mind?

We can then open the discussion about where we store these images - the library of our memories, those things, events, people, images, impulses which seem to bubble quickly to the surface.

We can look at this library as both a useful source of already existing ideas, images which we can put together in original ways, like a jigsaw puzzle or collage. Much improvisation is really just that - the spontaneous expression of cliche, or "bits of broken pictures", sub-images and thoughts which we assemble, sometimes with more originality than others.

When we clear this library we can sometimes find something more raw, something a bit emptier, we find primary colours - an "original palette" where we can fashion things that have never been fashioned before.

Sometimes raw sound, sometimes clumsy images, the canvas is less defined and may be even a bit scary in what we see.

Repeat the exercise and see what arises. We can even then have a shared gallery of the pictures as the pairs invite others to "see" their works of art (described in words and perhaps some gesture too!).

What does it feel like when we seem to have looked beyond our cluttered stage of cliche into the corners of originality?

Do we have an original palette of primary colours, hidden in our cluttered studio behind palettes and canvases filled with broken and part pictures not made by us; half-seen in the corners of our eyes in the media, on TV, as we sit on trains? Can we find a new originality in the way we put these pictures together, as DJs do when remixing music? And can we also find that original palette and enjoy its own unique thrill? What are the implications for the way we create and work with new ideas at work?

Plenty to explore here, and to link with work concept of creativity, product and service design and, of course, innovation and invention.

Activity 2

The same activity can be done with a sculpture as we seek to explore and create forms, in mine (either individually or collaboratively, which allow original forms to arise, or to enjoy putting together forms built from already existing "parts" and "building blocks" in our mind.

This is also then a more profound and authentic introduction to exploring work and organisational issues through the classic "sculptures" and Boal-like exercises to be found in the applied improv world.

Enjoy!

Paul Levy

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