The Myth of the Myth of the Lone Genius — LessWrong
Genius, he argues, tends to happen in community, not isolation.
Jeff Goins • Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age
There’s a healthier way of thinking about creativity that the musician Brian Eno refers to as “scenius.” Under this model, great ideas are often birthed by a group of creative individuals—artists, curators, thinkers, theorists, and other tastemakers—who make up an “ecology of talent.” If you look back closely at history, many of the people who we t
... See moreAustin Kleon • Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered (Austin Kleon)
If these are some of the material conditions, there are equally important social ones, in particular the presence of a surrounding network or milieu. It’s rare for people to develop compelling and coherent ideas on their own. Individuals and teams flourish best in a vibrant milieu that brings together comment and criticism, competition with peers,
... See moreGeoff Mulgan • Another World Is Possible
So what’s the take-home message? Let’s not treat the myth of the long genius like it’s gospel. Sometimes really smart people think long and hard about something and come up with an idea that changes the world. Yes, this happens very rarely and most innovation comes from the “hard slog of large armies of individuals, each making—at best—a tiny step ... See more