Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Creativity Tips: Learn Better

The genius behind Pearls Before Swine, Stephan Pastis, recently posted this on his Facebook page. It cracks me up. It also gives me the opportunity to point out that creativity lessons are everywhere. Everywhere. For example, this cartoon. Why does it work?
  1. There are five words. While three is magical, five is better than four. Odd works better than even.
  2. In one sentence, Pastis has the perfect adjective, alliteration and an active verb. English teachers around the world applaud him.
  3. The copy is short, if not sweet: We don't have to work to understand this.
I love Rat. Cory recently told me I am Rat. Could be, but not the point. Here's the point: We're surrounded by opportunities for creative learning, and all too often we ignore them. It's a simple matter of perspective. Look for the lessons and you'll see them.

And this clearly disputes earlier reports of where I might be going ...

5 comments:

Mike Brown said...

Interestingly enough, the gospel at this morning's mass referenced not "throwing your pearls before swine."

Not sure how to spell out the Twilight Zone theme riff, so go ahead and insert it here!

Bud Simpson said...

He's a beautifully concise writer, and had Pastis not listened to the voice, he'd still be a lawyer.

Jan said...

I'm playing the Twilight Zone music ... and I didn't know Pastis had been an attorney. No wonder he understands Rat. (That's a joke for my attorney brother. I can safely poke fun at him, because he doesn't read the blog. Amber, shhh. Don't tell.)

Mo said...

Jan, yet ANOTHER THING that ties us! This is my favorite which I save to read last every morning (and remind me to tell you about all the disbarred attorneys in our family!)

Anonymous said...

Just as you are inspired by the written word, I am inspired by the visual picture - You can use the cartoons as a starter for showing emotion and how facial/body language changes as the situation changes without the use of language. I am Pig's twin in personality so I watch him very carefully.