Summary of Vince Moore - Creativity: In Defense of Sloppy Thinking and What ifs

Summary of Vince Moore “Creativity: In Defense of Sloppy Thinking and What Ifs”

            “Creativity: In Defense of Sloppy Thinking and What Ifs” is Vincent Moore’s essay on his thoughts, notions, and practical advice toward creative thinking.  Creativity is more than just making mistakes (1).  He writes, “Children are the ultimate creative minds,” as they are not bound to the ideals of rules and logic (1).  He uses children’s imaginations to remove the traditional barriers that inhibit creative thought.   Sloppy thinking is not being concerned about right or wrong, but about exploring their world through “what if” questions.  It is the distinction between what is deemed correct against playful consideration.

            Moore notes the common thread of creativity is to express an idea, that is, to communicate “thoughts, feelings, beliefs, hopes, and fears through a variety of means” (2).  Straightforward writing does not always convey meaningful messages (2).  Jonathan Swift used horrific metaphors to elevate issues and capture the reader’s attention.  As Moore writes, “ … because of how it deviates form the truth, it makes its point much more intensely” (2).   There is something in reader interpretation that contributes to metaphors and give them fuller life.

            Moore states that sloppy thinking is the next step in creativity (3).  That is, once an artist wants to communicate an idea they have to figure out how they are going to do it (3)?   It is the notion of creating that sparks the initial ideas for the artist to reflect upon.  Moore likes to ask What If questions (3).  He uses several nonsense examples that became stories from James Thurber and Shakespeare (3).  He notes, “In each case, we start with an irrational, illogical idea, and then, through long effort, we apply problem solving (logic) to create something that makes sense within the specific context” (4).  Moore suggests that creativity is the combination of sloppy thinking and rational thought (4).  It is “nonsense turned into sense” (4).

            Perhaps the most significant notion Moore has is that creativity is the tool that artists use to interpret their world (4).  This notion could be furthered that creativity is the tool that everyone uses people interpret their world.  He writes that the successful artist starts with a germ of an idea and works until the finished product (5).  In the end, Moore’s approach is practical, and it provides solid advice to the aspiring artist.

           

Moore, Vincent.  "Creativity: In Defense of Sloppy Thinking and What Ifs."  ART524, Creativity and Its Development. Tiffin University. Fall, 2007. 1-5. June 18, 2012.