Cycles

Rough Ideas 11:23 PM

Creating and critiquing; the natural expression of an idea, and the technical analysis of the systems that compose such expressions.

Music, the technical side is formulated into theory. Yet this theory is not needed to know how a sound makes you feel. This is the distinction you should make with any creative process. The technique is only an observation of a feeling, accumulated into a pattern, style, and “rule”.

Your own feelings show that you are just as capable of being aware of what is deemed pleasant or provocative as anyone has ever been. Lead with the intention of expression, not the practice of technique.

Your mind will be quick to disguise technique as expression. Sitting down with the intention to create, only for your mind to look for what techniques of creation should be practiced, leads you to confusion, and a foreign relationship towards your initial idea which is now deemed unworthy of expression. You will leave that project feeling defeated, but it’s important to realize you never began expressing at all, you’ve just considered its failure through technique. 

Once you’ve made something you are proud of, your mind will continue to trick you. Since the initial, simple source of the expression is too vague to articulate, you naturally attribute it to the technique you relied on during your expression. Setting yourself up for the same mistakes the next time you engage in creation.