http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33990163/ns/us_news-faith/

I pondered this for a while and concluded that very little gets invented, or done for that matter, without a “need” first existing.  The “need” provides a focus and/or a direction for our creativity.  Creative thoughts, ideas and contraptions that pour forth from a person are largely just novelties until they meet a need of someone else – then they become inventions.  There are exceptions to the rule, of course, like pet-rocks and Chia pets (no one needs this stuff, but these inventors created a market for themselves), and sometimes inventions happen by mistake.  But generally it is a need that must be fulfilled which acts as the reigns for that wild horse creativity.  Together, need and creativity (freedom) get things done.  Maybe this grossly over-simplifies things?  It seems like a bit of a paradox, though.

Creative thinkers “think outside the box.”  But usually we use this term about people when we are trying to solve a well defined problem.  The problem exists, it has definite borders and limits, it is quantified; kinda like a box.  So a good solution to a “box” problem is to think “outside the box.”  That’s wacky.  It’s been said that “Creative problems require creative solutions.”  This is a bit more accurate of a statement I think, but I would argue that a “creative problem” is just like any other problem, it’s just that it has not been exhaustively researched yet.  After close examination and good research, I believe a “creative problem” becomes a “box” problem and again, creative thinkers think “outside the box” to come up with a novel solution.

I made a statement earlier (be it right or wrong), that the spewings of creative people are really just novelties until it meets someones need and becomes invention.  Novelties is probably the wrong word, though, so how about art.  I would gladly put pet-rocks and Chia pets into the realm of art, because I think that is what they really are.  You could argue that we “need” art, but I don’t think my love for art as a need, as much as a passion.  Art, for me, elicits feelings, emotions and desires; but it does not meet a need like an invention does.  What happens when you combine art and invention?  Masterpieces are born!  I use to drive a Subaru Justy; it was a great basic car that met my needs.  A Ferrari, on the other hand, is a masterpiece; it would meet my need for basic transportation, but it is also a thing of beauty, a work of art.

OK, OK, OK so what does any of this have to do with Haikus?  Well it’s probably not accurate or fair to say that all creativity without a need is just art.  Take the Haiku for example (wikipedia).  Here is an art that “imposes” some relatively strict guidelines but is wide open to creative implementation.  Traditionally an English style Haiku has a 5, 7, 5 pattern, separated onto three lines.  The 5, 7, 5 pattern is generally created with sounds.  Those are the “rules”, so now what?  That’s it – you can do whatever you want.  It’s actually quite beautiful.  Your given a “box” which has an inherent necessity to be filled.  How do you fill it?  You think “outside the box.”  The Haiku represents a necessity, or is itself a necessity.  Therefore, “Haiku is the mother of invention.”  Hmmm…I’m not sure if I buy any of this.