Oblique Strategies: Brian Eno’s Prompts for Overcoming Creative Block(brainpickings.org)
brainpickings.org
Oblique Strategies: Brian Eno’s Prompts for Overcoming Creative Block
http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/22/brian-eno-visual-music-oblique-strategies/
2 comments
Huh. I think a big point of things like tarot cards and the I Ching is exactly to short-circuit rational processes and let people come up with answers intuitively.
I wrote a little Python script to return a random one to stdout... too trivial to even post.
If you're not on Windows, you may be interested in the 'fortune' and 'strfile' commands.
If you're not on Windows, you may be interested in the 'fortune' and 'strfile' commands.
+1 to this. You can modify fortune's output as you see fit, and also do fun things like fortune | cowthink -s
I'd love to use that Python script, mind pasting it up somewhere?
EDIT: wasn't sure if you were fucking with me or not, then realized there was an earlier version of the gist. Still not sure what happened - thanks?
There is a copyright question below... I used these lists: http://www.rtqe.net/ObliqueStrategies/Ed3.html
I thought they were copyright, but you seem to be suggesting that you're free to share them?
Eno, Bowie, et al also used it during the sessions for Low and Radiohead used it during the sessions for Kid A/Amnesiac. Its also related tangentially to Burroughs cut-up technique. Sources are the 33 1/3 book series on Low and Wikipedia, though I don't have links handy.
Really interesting to me. I like its paradoxical practicality. I'm sure it could be used for many different kinds of creative endeavors. Perhaps even software.
Really interesting to me. I like its paradoxical practicality. I'm sure it could be used for many different kinds of creative endeavors. Perhaps even software.
The Oblique Strategies cards get a mention in this cartoon about Bowie and Eno recording Low:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FODvjYoVEi8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FODvjYoVEi8
I love the fact that cartoon exists.
I use them for software. Generally they are a prompt for a five minute time-boxed stream of consciousness writing session about the problem I am trying to solve.
I wrote a little Python script to return a random one to stdout... too trivial to even post.
I like the reference to Bowie's "Heros" album in particular the song "Sense of Doubt" which is a great instrumental. I love that album and that song.
These are useful little aphorisms for when you are stuck. This article has a little background.