III. Unlock your own creativity
Roger Von Oech
“Unlock Your Own Creativity” is a very informative essay by
Roger Von Oech. It is based on the writer’s personal experience of life. It
reveals : the complex nature of creativity. It covers every age-group which is
involved in it. The essayist caution the young artists about the mental locks
which stand in the way of creativity. He further analyses the relationship
between creativity and human life.
Short question
Ques 1)
What does the writer mean by “ New ideas germinate faster in the loose soil
of soft thinking , - which finds similarities and connections among different
things or situations’ .
Answer :
A soft mind is free to think independently. It
is ‘soft’ because it is not opposed to the germination of new ideas. A rigid
mind is all insulated. It cannot think of its own. A person should not have a
narrow mind and confined thinking and should let the soil of mind be loose so
that new ideas can come into it easily. A soft mind is very mobile and
accommodating. It finds similarities and connections among different things or
situations. As seed sprout faster in a loose soil than in a hard one, similarity
new ideas sprout and grow in a soft mind.
Long Questions
Ques 1)
What does the writer
mean by ‘ Mental Locks ’ ?
Answer :
Mental-Locks are the restrictions on the mental
faculty. They do not allow the mind to work independently. They limit the range
of mind. They do not allow the mind to think about alternatives. The mind is
remotely controlled. Being practical may make one narrow-minded. It is forced
to be logical at the cost of being creative. Mental locks are opposed to the
creation of new ideas. The practical approach to life is the enemy of
creativity. The stress on specialisation is another mental-lock. It discourages
the comparative approach to life. So, one must think outside of his field of
specialisation and to be a generalist to discover creative ideas. It is wrong
to think that you are not creative because creativity is not meant for only
artists and inventors.
The writer also refers to seven common
statements which constitute Mental Locks. These are : find right answer , that is not logical, follow
the rules, be practical, do not be foolish, that is not my idea and I am not
creative.
Ques 2)
Discuss in detail the types of mental locks that the writer
talks of.
Answer :
The writer Roger Von Oech points seven mental
locks that act as obstruction in creativity and free thinking. These are:
1) Find the right answer :
There
should not be one right answer to a question. Other options should be explored
which produces new ideas.
2) That is not logical :
A thing should not be dealt with logical or
rational approach because it prevents free thinking and new ideas.
3) Follow the rules :
Rules
are bondages and should not be followed. Views beyond rules give new ideas.
4) Be practical :
Practical
approach narrows the views; hence, discarded creativity is more associated with
wide realm.
5) Do not be foolish :
Being
foolish is a part of risk taking exercise that read to new ideas.
6) That is not my area :
A person should be interested in everything
and aware as what one learns in one field, might prove useful in another.
7) I am not Creative :
A person
should not be negativity in terms of creativity as thought of creativity sets
in motion the actions accordingly.
Video Lecture :- 3
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