Some people have a more active imagination than others but having space to imagine used to just be a natural extension of daily life. No that long ago you could not have filled your life with nonstop media consumption even if you had wanted to. We're the first few generations that actually have the option of giving up the space that would have been... See more

An artist has many tools at their disposal, and imagination is one of them. Imagination is what takes art beyond being mere remix of the world or other works and into completely new territory. Deeply imaginative work is the work that takes us so far into new territory that it's almost unrecognizable. Imaginative work is what helps us discover new p... See more

I think a lot of the lack of imagination and originality in TV has come from a devaluing of screenwriting. So much stuff now, especially in streaming TV and Blockbuster filmmaking has the trappings of high production value but absolutely horrible writing. I don’t blame the writers. Good writing takes a lot of time and investment. You can't force it... See more

It's also rare. It's rare because it requires the artist to do the actual work of imagining, something few set aside the time it takes to do these days. Imaginative work also takes a real commitment to the product of your own imagination. When you're in deeply imaginative territory with a work, you can't look to others for confirmation that you're ... See more

I think even if we’re drawn towards sequels and remakes, fundamentally we go to the cinema to see and feel new images. So much of mainstream cinema has become a retreading of tired ground.

There another thing that limits imagination though, and that is the hypermodern environment most of us live in. It’s an environment that is sapped of the conditions that are needed to cultivate imagination.

Existing as an artist who makes imaginative work is certainly possible, it's just a question of what the culture chooses to pay attention to. Realistically I don’t know if the kinds of films as strange as David Lynch made will ever compete with the blockbuster tentpoles, I think it’s very possible that ship has sailed. But I also don’t really feel ... See more

Trying to stay competitive with streaming, executives are trying to make larger profits and screenwriting is one way they can cut corners and (temporarily) hide that they cut corners. When an audience looks at a trailer they see the flashy costumes, set design, actors they love, crisp cinematography, or an IP they recognize, but you can't really ju... See more

We don't create the economic and social conditions that allow imagination to thrive. Imaginative media takes risk. Corporatization is allergic to risk. I think it’s a mistake to blame consumers, because in traditional media so much of what's produced and how it's distributed is owned by a few corporate entities, and in new media the algorithms deci... See more