Forming Ideas, with Ideas of Form

Core Principles

1. Ideas Have a Natural Form: Not every idea fits every medium. Choosing the right form is an act of respect and responsibility.
2. The Medium Shapes the Message: How an idea is expressed determines how it is understood.
3. Restraint Is Key: Creativity thrives on intentionality and discipline, not the impulse to use every tool.

Mantras

• “The medium serves the idea, not the other way around.”
• “Honor the idea by choosing the form it demands.”
• “Start with writing, elevate to film, evolve into music, or abstract into mathematics as needed.”

A Hierarchy of Creative Expression

1. Writing: Thought Made Tangible
   • Rule: If an idea can be fully expressed through words or symbolic communication, write it.
   • Purpose: Writing is ideal for clarity, logic, and deep reflection. It captures ideas in their purest intellectual form, whether through prose or mathematical symbols.
   • Subcategory: Symbolic Communication (i.e., Mathematics)
     • Rule: If the idea’s essence is rooted in patterns, structures, or universal relationships, express it in abstract, symbolic form (i.e., mathematically).
     • Purpose: Mathematics communicates abstract truths with precision, offering a form of written language for ideas too complex or abstract for traditional prose.
     • Mantra: “Express it symbolically when words are insufficient.”
   • Mantra for Writing: “If I can write it, I will write it.”
2. Film: The Amplifier of Emotion and Thought
   • Rule: If the idea needs to be seen and felt, use film.
   • Purpose: Film adds sensory and emotional depth, turning abstract concepts into lived experiences.
   • Mantra: “Show what words cannot tell.”
3. Music: The Conduit of Pure Emotion
   • Rule: If the idea needs to bypass logic and evoke pure feeling, use music.
   • Purpose: Music captures the emotional essence of an idea, transcending verbal and visual expression.
   • Mantra: “Feel, don’t think.”