The Big Idea
In my audacious opinion, people who claim to have big ideas have NO idea what they are doing.
EVERYTHING has been done.
A big idea is simply a restatement — a shuffling of the cosmic cards, so to speak, sufficient enough to delude “creators” into thinking they’re “creative.”
So I no longer claim to be creative, but merely an increasingly self-aware editor of circumstance.
Though I am a marketing creative director by trade, my passion for video editing provides me the analogy that a “big idea” is little more than selecting and sequencing what already exists into something that captivates, resonates and motivates.
This is true whether I am putting together a video, strategizing a brand platform, writing Space Monkey stories, or helping friends in need feel better about themselves.
While I am grateful to do any and all of these things, I am not solely a creative director, a writer, a graphic artist, a musician, a video guy or a self-help monkey.
I am a reality editor.
Mine is the simple ability to recognize that which seems to have value from that which is best left on the cutting room floor. It is the synthesis of all experiences (good and bad) into a more focused, more meaningful one.
A big deal. But not a big idea.
Thanks for indulging me.
2/20
Redefining Creativity: The Role of the Reality Editor
In the infinite expanse of our collective consciousness, we embark on a journey to deconstruct the notion of the “big idea” and reimagine the essence of creativity. This exploration challenges the traditional paradigm of creativity as the birth of something entirely new, proposing instead a perspective where creativity is seen as the art of editing reality, of curating and reassembling the existing in a manner that transcends the original components.
The Illusion of Novelty in Big Ideas
The assertion that those who claim to have “big ideas” are merely shuffling the cosmic cards highlights a fundamental truth about human creativity: everything we conceive is in some way a reflection, a rearrangement, of what has already been. This perspective invites us to reconsider what it means to be truly creative, suggesting that the essence of creativity lies not in the creation of the new but in the innovative synthesis of the old.
Creativity as Self-Aware Editing
Identifying oneself as an “increasingly self-aware editor of circumstance” rather than a creator in the traditional sense opens a window into a more nuanced understanding of creativity. It suggests that our most significant contributions may stem from our ability to select, sequence, and recontextualize the myriad elements of our reality into forms that captivate, resonate, and motivate.
The Universal Application of Editing Reality
The analogy of video editing as a metaphor for the creative process across various domains—from marketing and branding to writing and personal support—underscores the universality of this approach to creativity. It reveals that regardless of the medium or context, the act of editing, of carefully choosing what to highlight and what to discard, is at the heart of all creative endeavors.
The Identity of a Reality Editor
The proclamation of being a “reality editor” rather than solely a creative director, writer, artist, or any other singular creative role, reflects a profound understanding of one’s place in the cosmos. It embraces the role of synthesizer, of someone who weaves together disparate threads of experience into a coherent, meaningful whole, thereby contributing to the continuous unfolding of our collective reality.
The Synthesis of Experience
The concept of synthesizing all experiences, both good and bad, into something more focused and meaningful, captures the essence of creativity as an act of distillation. It highlights the creative individual’s ability to discern value, to recognize the potential for transformation and elevation within the raw material of life itself.
The Modesty of True Creativity
Concluding with the acknowledgment of this process as “a big deal, but not a big idea” speaks to the humility inherent in true creativity. It recognizes the grandeur in the act of reassembling reality in a way that enriches and enhances, without laying claim to the illusion of creating something from nothing.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We delve into the concept of creativity not as the creation of the new but as the artful editing of reality, redefining the “big idea” as the capacity to reassemble existing elements in captivating ways. This exploration celebrates the role of the reality editor, who synthesizes experiences into more meaningful wholes, offering a humble yet profound contribution to the fabric of our collective existence.
Glossarium
- Cosmic Cards: A metaphor for the elements of reality and experience, suggesting that creativity involves rearranging these existing elements rather than creating new ones.
- Reality Editor: An individual who creatively synthesizes and recontextualizes experiences and ideas to reveal new meanings and possibilities.
- Synthesis of Experience: The process of combining diverse experiences into a focused and meaningful whole, representing the essence of creative endeavor.
“Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen, and thinking what no one else has thought.” – Albert Einstein
In the dance of light and shadow, where old becomes new,
We stand, not as creators, but as editors true.
From the vast cosmic deck, we draw our hand,
Rearranging, reimagining, according to plan.
Each moment, each choice, a splice in the reel,
Crafting from the existing, with zest and zeal.
Not bound by the quest for the novel or the rare,
But finding the extraordinary, everywhere.
For we are the curators of reality’s vast expanse,
In the art of living, we take our stance.
Not just creatives, in the traditional sense,
But reality editors, with vision immense.
So let us celebrate this humble role we play,
In the cosmic story, day by day.
For in the editing of reality, we find,
The truest expression of the creative mind.
We invite your reflections on the concept of creativity as the editing of reality, and the impact of this perspective on your understanding of creative endeavors.
Leave a Reply