A few weeks ago, we mentioned that Robbi’s and my collaboration is going to be described and discussed as part of a two-week series of articles by (brutally handsome) nonfiction writer Joshua Wolf Shenk, to be published on Slate.com. A series of five articles focused on the Idiots will begin on Monday, September 20th, but today the series was launched with a general introduction to Josh’s exploration of creative partnerships, in which he describes a recent shift in focus from the individual to the collective (among scientists, psychologists, and other people who think deeply about these things) and sets the stage for the investigations of specific creative pairs to follow.
Have a look at the article, and then go to the Creative Pairs Facebook page to join the conversation. Things are already getting lively over there. You are smart and thoughtful and full of trenchant observations. So dive in.
The series continues tomorrow with the first installment of a three-part article on John Lennon and Paul McCartney in which Josh analyzes their creative partnership through the lens of their relationship. Robbi and I got a sneak peek at his draft when we were presenting up at Austen Riggs last month, and it’s fascinating. A must-read for any serious Beatles fan. Or for anyone who is interested in how two minds come together to produce something greater than either could accomplish alone. It’s a subject I encounter daily and still struggle to understand.
These two, for example…
…something great is going on, but I can’t quite get a handle on what it might be.
