Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

[bioprofessor]

If you accept Daniel Pink's view of the future, then the entertainment industry should have a bright future...

In an age where Asia and Automation does just about every manufacturing task, Daniel Pink in his book A Whole New Mind asks "what do humans have to do now?" That is, what's left now that we've made ourselves obsolete. He answers by proposing a move away from logical, systematic, left-brain ways of being, toward a more "right-brain" intuitive existence - a natural move from the bonds of industrialization.

Here are Pink's Six Critical Competencies for the "conceptual age." I was struck by how closely they parallel the essential elements of writing a good story:

1. Design
2. Story
3. Symphony
4. Empathy
5. Play
6. Meaning

I don't see the human brain evolving completely away from toolmaking (there's always a need for a bigger weapon), but it is interesting to ponder what will we do with all this extra free time made possible by robotics and automation.

[THEUGLYDUCKLING]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Aparently smoke meth and collect unemployment.

[Optimus]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Pink has some interesting thoughts on management and business, and his books and paid seminars on it are his cash cow, of course.

But...his focus is more about shifting (in business and culture, but mainly business) from putting priority on information ("who knows more") to putting priority on creativity ("who dreams more or better"). The human brain will never evolve away from tool-making. We still make tools and always will, but now the tools revolve around and are created to service information...and even information is its own tool. If anything, the supposed Conceptual Age, with its focus on creativity, will foster an era of adventing radically new types of tools with which to shape/guide culture.

Granted, I've only skimmed the book, haven't devoted a whole lot of attention to it (I've read so many business books they now make my eyes glaze over), but from what I've taken from it, it's more a book about business, management, and macroeconomics than it is about some cultural revolution. And, he isn't proposing the "Conceptual Age" (as in, it's not a suggestion), he's pretty much saying that's what's going to happen or already is happening and, if we don't get on board, we (as Americans) will fall futher behind the rest of the world. We're not moving from the Industrial Age to the Conceptual Age according to Pink. In his book, he (rightly) asserts that we left the Industrial Age years (if not decades) ago and moved into the Information Age. The next logical shift is from the Information Age to what he's called the Conceptual Age. He's not the first to assert that the "creative class" is the demographic that will lead us into the future, but he's certainly the one making the most money off of that notion right now.

I think he's got some good insights and it's really interesting to ponder whether this transition (if it happens the way Pink is prognosticating) will be a smooth, positive one or whether the US business model will be dragged into it kicking and screaming. I think it'll be more of a smooth transition for the US, as Generation X (and now Y) is pretty much taking the lead in dynamically changing business zeitgeist in the States.

Damn, I sure do prattle on about minutia...sorry.

However...(Off Topic Rant warning)...I'm intellectually offended by him continuing the myth of the "left brain" and "right brain" lateralizing creativity, emotion, intuition, and logical brain functions.

The brain doesn't lateralize those qualities in that way. It's total fiction. Pop-psych myth. But, as long as people believe it, you can make money off of it by desiging "tests" to see "which brain type, right or left, you are" and crap like that.

Okay, sorry, just had to rant for a few secs.

Other than that, Pink's got some interesting, sometimes thought-provoking opinions. As far as those competencies relating to writing, it seems natural that parallels can be drawn from the struture of a creative endeavor (e.g. writing) and the structure of an Age which promotes creative endeavors.

[bioprofessor]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Aparently smoke meth and collect unemployment.

Sad, but true, at least in the short term. But others, the survivors, according to Pink, will find a way to turn their intuition, their passion into "conceptual currency;" make a sustainable living off of their right-brain power. As writers, we may just be slightly ahead of the curve.

[Optimus]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

You've got me wanting to go back and give the book a thorough read now. Got some others to finish first, though.

I'd be interested to see the manga he wrote, too. I think it was also about business, which seems like a weird, but entertaining, way to present it.

[bioprofessor]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Pink has some interesting thoughts on management and business, and his books and paid seminars on it are his cash cow, of course.

But...his focus is more about shifting (in business and culture, but mainly business) from putting priority on information ("who knows more") to putting priority on creativity ("who dreams more or better"). The human brain will never evolve away from tool-making. We still make tools and always will, but now the tools revolve around and are created to service information...and even information is its own tool. If anything, the supposed Conceptual Age, with its focus on creativity, will foster an era of adventing radically new types of tools with which to shape/guide culture.

Granted, I've only skimmed the book, haven't devoted a whole lot of attention to it (I've read so many business books they now make my eyes glaze over), but from what I've taken from it, it's mainly a book about business, management, and macroeconomics than it is about some cultural revolution. And, he isn't proposing the "Conceptual Age" )as in, it's not a suggestion), he's pretty much saying that's what's going to happen or already is happening and, if we dont' get on board, we (as Americans) will fall futher behind the rest of the world. We not moving from the Industrial Age to the Conceptual Age according to Pink. In his book, he (rightly) asserts that we left the Industrial Age years (if not decades) ago and moved into the Information Age. The next logical shift is from the Information Age to what he's called the Conceptual Age. He's not the first to assert that the "creative class" is the demographic that will lead us into the future, but he's certainly the one making the most money off of that notion right now.

Mostly, I think he's got some good insights and it's really interesting to ponder whether this transition (if it happens the way Pink is prognosticating) will be a smooth, positive one or whether the US business model will be dragged into it kicking and screaming. I think it'll be a smooth, natural transition for the US, as Generation X is pretty much taking the lead in dynamically changing business zeitgeist.

Damn, I sure do prattle on about minutia...sorry.

However...(Off Topic Rant warning)...I'm intellectually offended by him continuing the myth of the "left brain" and "right brain" lateralizing creativity, emotion, intuition, and logical brain functions.

The brain doesn't lateralize those qualities in that way. It's total fiction. Pop-psych myth. But, as long as people believe it, you can make money off of it by desiging "tests" to see "which brain type, right or left, you are" and crap like that.

Okay, sorry, just had to rant for a few secs.

Other than that, Pink's got some interesting, sometimes thought-provoking opinions.

Excellent points. I agree. I think (at least I hope) Pink's reference to "left/right brain" has more to do with ways of thinking, i.e. logic/systematic vs creative/conceptual, than the actual neurophysiological landscape that leads to such thoughts.

[Optimus]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Excellent points. I agree. I think (at least I hope) Pink's reference to "left/right brain" has more to do with ways of thinking, i.e. logic/systematic vs creative/conceptual, than the actual neurophysiological landscape that leads to such thoughts.

I know, I'm just being a pedantic asswipe...I mean...quibbler. But, it's based on the theory that creativity, intuition, etc. actually does reside, physiologically, in the right brain hemisphere and our logical selves reside in the left hemisphere. People actually believe it now.



I wonder if there's a script idea in any of Pink's theories. People often write about dystopian futures based on some sort of nuclear, governmental, or industrial apocalypse...I wonder what kind of story one could write about a dystopian future written about the possible downside to shifting toward the Conceptual Age. Better get on it, bio!

[bioprofessor]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

I know, I'm just being a pedantic asswipe...I mean...quibbler. But, it's based on the theory that creativity, intuition, etc. actually does reside, physiologically, in the right brain hemisphere and our logical selves reside in the left hemisphere. People actually believe it now.



I wonder if there's a script idea in any of Pink's theories. People often write about dystopian futures based on some sort of nuclear, governmental, or industrial apocalypse...I wonder what kind of story one could write about a dystopian future written about the possible downside to shifting toward the Conceptual Age. Better get on it, bio!

Yes, yes. I can see it now... the gritty, but outnumbered Industrialites vs the dominant super-brained Starbuckians.

[Ravenlocks]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

What activities are going to generate money in this so-called Conceptual Age (other than the government printing it)? Who's going to pay us to sit around and dream stuff up, and why would they bother?

If the business world is supposed to start rewarding creativity, well, I haven't noticed it doing so yet. Everybody claims they want you to "think outside the box," but that only lasts until you do.

I'm inclined to think the future will look the way vig/Duckling said.

[Donreel]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Who's going to pay us to sit around and dream stuff up, and why would they bother?

And the answer.....

Is to be found in "Entertainment," a short story by M.A. (Michael Anthony) Foster, which appears in the slickly-titled anthology, "New Voices 4, The John W. Campbell Award Nominees," edited by George R.R. Martin, copyright 1981, Berkley Books.

Ideal for a short, maybe even a feature.

[Ravenlocks]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

And the answer.....

Is to be found in "Entertainment," a short story by M.A. (Michael Anthony) Foster, which appears in the slickly-titled anthology, "New Voices 4, The John W. Campbell Award Nominees," edited by George R.R. Martin, copyright 1981, Berkley Books.

Ideal for a short, maybe even a feature.

You mean I have to go look up a short story to find out?

[Donreel]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

You mean I have to go look up a short story to find out?

Well...you are a book reviewer.

Interestingly, a quick google search turned up only one decent though incomplete summary.

It's been years since I read it, but suffice to say, in an isolated city in the future an unseen sinister power keeps people comfy and fed, as long as they continue to create engaging "entertainments" using society's ubiquitous computer-style "multi-media" devices that project wall-size images in their homes to be judged by the remote benefactor (I think). But if their work is deemed wanting, they must go to a Soylent Green-type extermination center. The heroine rebels against this arrangement...and complications ensue.

As I recall, much of the story simply sets up the premise, which was, or is, eerily prescient, at least in terms of the capabilities ordinary people would have in the future.

[Mark Somers]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

I know, I'm just being a pedantic asswipe...I mean...quibbler. But, it's based on the theory that creativity, intuition, etc. actually does reside, physiologically, in the right brain hemisphere and our logical selves reside in the left hemisphere. People actually believe it now.

the right left theory was created by Julian Jaynes. One thing that got him into trouble with his theory was that he published a the general popular book "The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind" instead of submitting a paper for scientific peer review. Modern neuro science uses MRI that wasn't around when Jaynes was putting forth his theories. "Welcome to your brain" is a great read and the authors use hollywood movie myths in the book.

[Ravenlocks]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Well...you are a book reviewer.

True. But I don't search out the books. They get sent to me.

Interestingly, a quick google search turned up only one decent though incomplete summary.

It's been years since I read it, but suffice to say, in an isolated city in the future an unseen sinister power keeps people comfy and fed, as long as they continue to create engaging "entertainments" using society's ubiquitous computer-style "multi-media" devices that project wall-size images in their homes to be judged by the remote benefactor (I think). But if their work is deemed wanting, they must go to a Soylent Green-type extermination center. The heroine rebels against this arrangement...and complications ensue.

As I recall, much of the story simply sets up the premise, which was, or is, eerily prescient, at least in terms of the capabilities ordinary people would have in the future.

Hmm, interesting premise. I suspect most people's work would be found wanting. It's just so hard to produce anything creatively superior, even when you've got talent and you work hard. Then there would be the question of what the sinister power would find entertaining and how easy to please it would be...

I've heard theories that some very well-known scifi isn't so much prescient as it was popular with techies who then tried to develop the same kind of technology presented in the scifi. I have no idea if that could be the case here, because I don't know how popular the short story was. I've mostly heard the theory in relation to Star Trek. The example I remember is communicators versus cell phones.

[bioprofessor]

Re: Pink's Six Competencies and Screenwriting

Well...you are a book reviewer.

Interestingly, a quick google search turned up only one decent though incomplete summary.

It's been years since I read it, but suffice to say, in an isolated city in the future an unseen sinister power keeps people comfy and fed, as long as they continue to create engaging "entertainments" using society's ubiquitous computer-style "multi-media" devices that project wall-size images in their homes to be judged by the remote benefactor (I think). But if their work is deemed wanting, they must go to a Soylent Green-type extermination center. The heroine rebels against this arrangement...and complications ensue.

As I recall, much of the story simply sets up the premise, which was, or is, eerily prescient, at least in terms of the capabilities ordinary people would have in the future.

Cool (albeit sinister) take on Pink's vision. This is not easy to think, let alone witness, but the days of HS/GED-educated line worker are numbered - natural selection at work. I see these guys/gals everyday; jobless, all-American, hardworking, good-hearted, meat-n-potatoes folks who smile, drink their Budweiser proudly, pretend to look forward to a bright future, but who've not a clue the odds that they face. The kid sitting next to them knows C++, can program macros into spreadsheets, speaks two foreign languages, has been to Germany twice on leadership internships, etc.

It's not Solyent Green, but the result, albeit slower, is the same, the systematic elimination of Joe six-pack.