Beyond Binary Thinking

Read time: 6 minutes

 

Break Free from Limiting Creative Constraints

"The world is not divided into sheep and goats. Not all things are black or white. It is possible to be gray."
― Charles M. Schulz

💡 Goal: Recognize things are not just black or white, but often involve shades of gray.

Why It Matters

There are languages that have only a few words for colors. The Pirahã language appears to have no words for color beyond describing lightness and darkness.

But when you are trying to convey the shades of gray between these two extremes, you need more words.

You need more concepts.

You need to give yourself the creative freedom to exist in the space between.

I think often of the idea in Buddhism called the middle way that talks about taking the path between two extremes. Aristotle spoke of the "golden mean". This idea appears over and over again.

Why?

The Resistor

Overcoming Binary Thinking 🤔

What keeps you from exploring the middle way?

My guess is that you have the same bias towards simplicity that I do. Your brain has a tendency to create shortcuts and categorize things into simple binaries.

Overcoming this bias towards black and white thinking requires conscious effort.

A Signal Path

Blurring Boundaries

Björk is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, actress, and music producer, known for her eclectic musical style. Her music and art often blend electronic and organic elements, combining natural and technological sounds. Her work embodies the gray area between nature and technology and often blurs the boundaries between genres.

Björk’s use of technology has been a hallmark of her career. A great example is her 2011 Biophilia project. It was not only an album, but also an educational tool and a series of apps that integrated music with interactive, educational experiences about the natural world, demonstrating her commitment to blending technology with art and education.

Björk’s work combines the power of artistic expression and experimentation, challenging boundaries and helping listeners imagine the world in new and unexpected ways.

Three Cats: Idea, Process, Result

Learn more about the three cats ​here​.

✅ Idea: Pursue the paradox

“Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complex than you imagine.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

🔺 Process: Question the structure

"The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is – it's to imagine what is possible." ― Toni Morrison

🔹 Result: To learn you must be teachable

“Our lives at times seem a study in contrast… love & hate, birth & death, right & wrong… everything seen in absolutes of black & white. Too often we are not aware that it is the shades of grey that add depth & meaning to the starkness of those extremes.”
– Ansel Adams

Switch to Action

"The opposite of a great truth is also true."

― Niels Bohr

Exploring the Gray

Enhance your understanding of "middle way" creativity, bridging gaps between binary thinking. Instructions:

  • Reflection: Reflect on your tendency to categorize ideas as black or white. Note these thoughts.
  • Creative Mapping: Draw a line from "Black" to "White" on paper. Add elements between these extremes representing a scale of ideas or styles.
  • Middle Way Creation: Using your preferred creative medium, produce a piece that combines elements typically viewed as opposites, such as blending different styles or the electronic with the natural.

Go Deeper

​Get Bjork's Biophilla

Looking for other ways to learn to confront your shadow side? Try the Passfilter Creative Cards

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