Oblique Strategies and creativity – Brian Eno

Brian Eno interviewed on BBC about creative strategy and Oblique Strategies

Oblique Strategies (subtitled “over one hundred worthwhile dilemmas”) is a set of published cards created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt first published in 1975.

Each card contains a phrase or cryptic remark which can be used to break a deadlock or dilemma situation.  Examples include:

  • Honour thy error as a hidden intention.
  • Look at the order in which you do things
  • Work at a different speed
  • Look closely at the most embarrassing details and amplify
  • Not building a wall; making a brick
  • Repetition is a form of change
  • Don’t break the silence
  • What wouldn’t you do?
  • What are you really thinking about just now? Incorporate
  • Disciplined self-indulgence

“It’s kind of art school stuff, turned into a lifestyle really.”  Eno comments.

Random Oblique Strategies (gives you 1 at a time, from OS vols 1-5):

See also the idea of “Lateral thinking” from Edward De Bono, 1970:

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