424 - Afraid Your Art is White Noise? Make People Feel with These 5 Tools
Oct 18, 2023
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Angus Fletcher, author of Wonderworks: Literary invention and the science of stories, discusses how to create emotional impact in creative work by revealing truths, creating tension, and using obstacles. He also explores the power of horror and suspense in art and the importance of focusing on the means rather than the end.
Identify the specific feeling you want to produce in your audience and reverse-engineer the steps needed to achieve it by studying techniques used by artists who excel in creating that feeling.
Embrace strategic creativity by setting clear goals, having a clear vision of the endpoint you want to reach, and focusing on the creative journey rather than solely fixating on the end result.
Deep dives
Creating a Tower of Feelings
To make your creative work stand out and evoke a strong response, it is essential to identify the specific feeling or emotion you want to produce in your audience. By understanding your desired emotional impact, you can reverse-engineer the steps needed to achieve it. Look for inspiration from other artists who excel in creating that feeling, and analyze their techniques. This could involve observational comedy, where you point out the ridiculous aspects of human behavior, or incorporating novel comparisons and analogies to surprise and delight your audience. Additionally, you can use storytelling techniques such as having characters learn a truth that the audience already knows, or creating suspense and intrigue by showing the audience something that the characters are unaware of. By highlighting the feeling you want to produce, understanding the mechanics behind it, and exploring different creative tactics, you can make your work resonate and avoid becoming white noise.
Harnessing the Power of Strategic Creativity
Strategic creativity involves setting clear goals and devising a plan to achieve them. This method is not limited to plotting and planning every detail of your creative process. It also includes embracing the idea of reverse engineering and having a clear vision of the endpoint you want to reach. By focusing on the means rather than solely fixating on the end result, you can immerse yourself in the creative journey and produce powerful work. Remember to inspect the desired outcome, accept its desirability, and then fully concentrate on the methods and mechanics that will lead you there. Strategic creativity allows you to enjoy the process and make intentional choices, ultimately guiding you towards your creative achievements.
The Importance of Truth in Creative Work
While understanding the mechanics of creating emotions and manipulating the human brain can be powerful, it is crucial to pair these techniques with truth and genuine emotional resonance. Creative work that resonates at a true level and reflects authentic experiences holds the greatest power to make people feel. It is not about manipulating or convincing audiences but rather about using creativity as a tool to evoke emotions that people inherently recognize as true. By embracing both the strategic and authentic aspects of creativity, artists can create work that not only engages and captivates audiences but also leaves a lasting impact.