How to Create An Original: Steal

One of the misconceptions about creativity is that it is an entirely original endeavor. Nothing could be further from the truth, for creativity frequently involves "stealing". Many celebrated creatives stole from their peers.

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, quoting Picasso, famously said, "Good artists copy; great artists steal." Jobs did not shy away from borrowing ideas from competitors and improving upon them. For instance, the graphical user interface (GUI) that became a hallmark of Apple products was inspired by the technology he observed at Xerox PARC. Jobs didn’t just copy Xerox's idea; he reimagined it and integrated it into a revolutionary product that transformed personal computing. For Jobs, creativity was about connecting things. He connected a GPS-enabled cellular phone to the internet (both of which existed before the iPhone), providing it with a touchscreen, and the rest is history.

William Shakespeare, the illustrious playwright, also exemplifies this practice. Many of his plays were not entirely original but were adaptations of existing works. "Romeo and Juliet," for example, was based on an Italian tale translated into verse. Shakespeare stole profusely from his contemporary playwright, Christopher Marlowe. Shakespeare’s genius lay in his ability to reinterpret these stories, infusing them with rich character development, intricate plots, and profound themes, thus creating timeless masterpieces.

Pablo Picasso, the legendary artist whose quote was mentioned by Jobs, considered art to be theft. Picasso was known for borrowing styles and techniques from other artists and cultures. His groundbreaking work, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," was heavily influenced by African art. Picasso didn't merely replicate these influences; he synthesized them into a new, avant-garde style that revolutionized modern art.

This phenomenon is evident even in literature. T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land" is alleged to be a blend of borrowed lines and allusions from various texts. Eliot’s work is celebrated not for its originality in content but for its innovative structure and the profound way it weaves together disparate sources.

In fact, the epigram, “great artists don’t borrow, they steal” attributed to Picasso actually belongs to T.S. Eliot, according to some commentators. But this should not be a problem since both of them stole from each other, proving the very point made by the quote, say creativity gurus Stephen Bayley and Roger Mavity.

In essence, creativity often involves reimagining existing ideas in novel ways. By "stealing"—borrowing, transforming, and repurposing—creative individuals like Steve Jobs, Shakespeare, Picasso, and Eliot have propelled their fields forward, ready for others to steal forward.

Artist and writer Austin Kleon found out from his genealogical research that a line of artists inspired each other. In his best-seller, ‘Steal Like an Artist’, he offers the following insights:

-       Nothing is original

-       Steal from your heroes

-       If you want to improve your creativity, surround yourself with other creative people.

Hetain Patel, a performance artist, says that when you try to imitate others, you discover something unique about yourself. Patel tried to imitate his father, but failed. He tried to imitate Bruce Lee, again failed. But each time he failed, he discovered something unique about himself.

You can do it too. Steal. Imitate. You may discover something truly unique about yourself.

That is where creativity evolves.

PS: Watch Hetain Patel’s hilarious TED talk on the subject, “Who am I? Think again”. https://www.ted.com/talks/hetain_patel_who_am_i_think_again