Design and Usage of Oblique Strategies

Oblique Strategies is a creative tool designed to inspire lateral thinking and break through creative blocks. The brainchild of musician and artist Brian Eno and multimedia artist Peter Schmidt, the first edition of these cards was published in 1975. Each card in the deck offers a unique prompt or aphorism meant to disrupt conventional thinking and foster innovative approaches to artistic challenges.

Design

The physical form of Oblique Strategies is a deck of cards, each measuring 7-by-9 centimeters. The cards are typically housed in a black box, giving them an austere, minimalist appearance. This simplicity in design reflects the intent of the cards: to offer clear, concise cues that can be interpreted flexibly depending on the context of their use.

The Text

Each card contains a single phrase or instruction, often abstract or paradoxical. Examples include directives like "Use an old idea," "Emphasize the flaws," or "Consider different fading systems." The language used is deliberately open-ended, allowing for a wide range of interpretations. This flexibility is crucial to their utility across various disciplines, from music to visual arts to problem-solving in other fields.

Editions

Since their initial release, several editions of Oblique Strategies have been published. Each edition contains a mix of original phrases and new additions, reflecting the evolving thoughts of Eno and Schmidt. The cards have been revised multiple times, most notably in the 1996 edition discussed in Eno's book, A Year with Swollen Appendices. The continuing interest in these cards led to a new set being produced in 2001.

Usage

The primary function of Oblique Strategies is to provide a creative jolt, breaking the user out of habitual thinking patterns. While initially designed for musicians and artists, the cards have found a broader audience over the years.

In Music

Brian Eno famously used Oblique Strategies during the recording sessions for albums like Another Green World and Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy). Artists like David Bowie also adopted the cards to inspire unconventional approaches to songwriting and recording. For example, during the production of Bowie's "Heroes," the cards were employed to generate innovative musical ideas, such as having musicians swap instruments to create novel sound textures.

In Visual Arts

Co-creator Peter Schmidt utilized the cards in his painting and multimedia exhibitions. The prompts often guided the conceptual framework of his pieces, encouraging a departure from traditional techniques and exploring new forms of expression. Schmidt's theoretical background in color and composition theory was a perfect complement to the practical applications of the cards in visual arts.

In Other Fields

While initially adopted by artists and musicians, the cards have found applications in various other fields, including business strategy, software development, and education. The principles of lateral thinking and disruption of conventional patterns are universally applicable, making Oblique Strategies a versatile tool for anyone facing a creative dilemma.

Implementation

To use the cards, one simply shuffles the deck and draws a card at random. The prompt on the card is then considered in relation to the current task or problem. This randomness introduces an element of chance, which can lead to unexpected and innovative solutions. Some users prefer to draw a card at the start of a project, while others use them only when they encounter a specific creative block.

Oblique Strategies

Oblique Strategies (subtitled Over One Hundred Worthwhile Dilemmas) is a card-based method for promoting creativity, jointly created by musician and artist Brian Eno and multimedia artist Peter Schmidt. First published in 1975, these cards are designed to provide a set of unconventional strategies to assist artists and musicians in overcoming creative blocks and sparking new ideas.

Creation and Development

The concept of Oblique Strategies emerged from the collaborative efforts of Eno and Schmidt, both of whom were exploring new ways to approach their respective creative processes. Eno, already a well-known figure in the music world for his work with bands like Roxy Music and artists like David Bowie, was interested in the intersection of art and randomness. Schmidt, an artist known for his theoretical work on color and composition, shared Eno’s fascination with chance and lateral thinking.

The initial set of cards included over 100 different prompts or aphorisms. Each card offers a suggestion or a course of action designed to shift the creator’s perspective, thereby enabling new ways of thinking and problem-solving. Examples of these prompts include phrases like "Use an old idea," "Try faking it," and "Emphasize the flaws."

Impact on Music and Art

The Oblique Strategies cards have had a significant influence on various creative fields, particularly in music. For instance, Eno famously utilized these cards during the production of albums like Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) and Another Green World. These albums are considered pioneering works in the genre of ambient music, showcasing Eno's innovative approach to sound and composition.

The cards were also employed during the recording sessions of David Bowie's "Heroes" and the Berlin Trilogy. Musicians would draw cards and follow the instructions, which often led to unexpected and groundbreaking results. The use of Oblique Strategies can be heard in the experimental sounds and unconventional structures of these albums.

Broader Influence

Beyond the realm of music, Oblique Strategies have been used by a variety of artists, writers, and even software developers. The cards encourage creative professionals to break free from habitual thought patterns, making them a valuable tool for anyone facing a creative dilemma.

The influence of Oblique Strategies extends to bands like Talking Heads, who applied these techniques during the production of their albums. The cards have also found their way into the studios of visual artists and filmmakers, who use them to inspire new directions in their work.

Editions and Legacy

Since their original publication in 1975, the Oblique Strategies cards have undergone several editions, incorporating new prompts while retaining many of the original aphorisms. The fifth edition, released in 2001, continues to be a popular version among creatives.

The legacy of Oblique Strategies is evident in their ongoing use and the continued relevance of their concepts. The cards remain a testament to the power of randomness and lateral thinking in the creative process.