Everything is a Remix Part 1 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
Everything is a Remix Part 3 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
Below is a great discussion on the idea of creativity that came from here on Flickr by someone who designs spaceships called nnenn. It's worth while going on to the flickr page as other users have placed idea on his constellation as to where they should go in terms of originality and creativity.
CREATIVITY (...as dots) Imagine a diagram that looks like a star-field, with every dot representing some known thing, information packet, or idea. The center is thick with basic knowledge items but the edges thin out with recent discoveries. In this context, true creation can be defined as simply placing a new dot somewhere in the map's blank areas. But when these new dots do appear, they tend to cluster around other pre-existing dots... and are rarely distant enough to be considered ingenious.
Now, a new dot appearing somewhere beyond the edge of the existing network might be considered extremely creative but is like a medieval peasant spontaneously inventing space travel: not likely. Unfortunately, this is how many perceive creativity... and either frustrate themselves in endless pursuit, or give-up altogether. If you take this approach, prepare for disappointment. There are, however, a few easier, alternative approaches that will get you your own dot... but all three rely on what's already known:
1. Push
Expand the current boundaries/limitations of some existing dot (usually involves a lot of time and effort.)
2. Play
Experiment wildly with some existing dot in hopes of discovering the previously hidden (odds are against you.)
Integrate two existing dots that are not already connected in an obvious way (my personal recommendation.)
Where Good Ideas come from - Steven Johnson
All Creative Work is Derivative
From filmmaker Nina Paley of Sita Sings The Blues fame comes a simple yet brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed case for the combinatorial nature of creativity. Paley photographed archaeological artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and animated them to illustrate her point: All creativity builds upon something that existed before and every work of art is essentially a derivative work. (This is swiped from the wonderful website brainpickings.org)