Paired constraints: A paradigm for solving the creativity problem

Abstract

The creativity problem is the product of operant conditioning. Both experts and novices get stuck in more-or-less successful solutions. The problem has two parts: how do you start, and, how do you continue, to do something new? The paired constraint paradigm presented in this paper is a framework, a template, for solving the problem. The framework has three parts: a structure (the problem space), a strategy (the paired constraints), and a process (solution-by-substitution). The structure is based on Newell and Simon’s seminal work; the strategy, on Reitman’s demonstration that constraints can both limit and direct search in a problem space; the process, on Stokes’ development of the paradigm. Photography is the domain used to demonstrate its possibilities. The case studies focus on Cindy Sherman, an identity-changing artist whose medium is photography, and Orham Pamuk, a Nobel prize winning author whose photography focuses on his perennial subject, Istanbul.