John Cleese is obsessed with creativity. He kind of needs to be. He’s the co-founder of Monty Python, the comedy troupe behind Monty Python and the Holy Grail—one of the greatest comedy films of all time.
The group’s impact on comedy was so great that some compare it to the effect the Beatles had on the music industry. If there’s one thing Cleese is adamant about, it’s that creativity is NOT innate. From Monty Python…”The Conditions for Creativity”.
The Moods of Creativity
Creativity isn’t about talent. It’s a mood. Create the right conditions?—?candles, mistletoe, romantic music?—?and violin sonatas practically start pouring out of your ears. According to Cleese, there are two moods we can be in. He calls these moods “modes of operation.”… Read the complete article from Charles Chu on Creativity on Better Humans.
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Monty Python (sometimes known as The Pythons) were a British surreal comedy group who created their sketch comedy show Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series. The Python phenomenon developed from the television series into something larger in scope and impact, including touring stage shows, films, numerous albums, several books, and a stage musical.
The Pythons’ influence on comedy has been compared to the Beatles’ influence on music. The Orlando Sentinel referred to their sketch show as “not only one of the more enduring icons of 1970s British popular culture, but also an important moment in the evolution of television comedy.”
Broadcast by the BBC between 1969 and 1974, Flying Circus was conceived, written, and performed by its members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Loosely structured as a sketch show, but with an innovative stream-of-consciousness approach (aided by Gilliam’s animation), it pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in style and content. Read more on Wikipedia.
