We love the idea of being rebels, donât we? This is particularly true in the realm of creativity. The image of the tortured artist, the rule-breaker, and the âdifferent oneâ has become almost romanticised. However, it’s important to acknowledge that creativity doesn’t always stem from breaking the rules. In fact, it often thrives within them.
Whether youâre writing, painting, designing, or filming, knowing the rules gives your rebellion meaning.
First, understand the framework
When we initially engage in creative work, it can be tempting to immediately jump into experimentation. After all, finding âyour styleâ sounds more exciting than studying basics. But hereâs the thing: the most daring creatives started by understanding structure.
Take filmmaking. Before you throw jump cuts and shaky cam into every shot, you need to grasp editing, composition, and pacing. Want to bend a rule? Cool. Just know what youâre bendingâand why.
Learn before you unlearn
Breaking a rule means nothing if you donât know what that rule is. Structure, grammar, colour theory, music notationâall these âlimitsâ are actually launching pads. They provide context, meaning, and intent.
You canât innovate until you understand what came before you.
Just like musicians study Bach before improvising jazz, or authors read classics before penning experimental fiction, creatives honour their craft by learning its language.
Pay homage to the past
Want to feel confident in your style? Get grounded in your craftâs history. Read the classics, watch the pioneers, and explore the archives. This course is not about copyingâitâs about respecting the roots while growing your own branches.
Think:
- Writers reading Austen, Orwell, and Toni Morrison
- Filmmakers studying Hitchcock and Kubrick
- Designers understanding Bauhaus before building bold new layouts
Itâs not boringâitâs foundational.
Creativity still needs community
Art may feel personal, but creative success often happens in collaboration. Shared rules help you connect, communicate, and create with others.
- Bands follow musical timing to jam
- Writers stick to grammar rules (until they choose not to)
- Visual artists use form and colour balance to guide the eye
Even Jackson Pollock needed to explain his work in the context of existing styles. Your boldest choices will land better when people understand what youâre reacting against.
Rules make your rebellion matter
When you truly know the rules, youâll know how to bend or break them intentionally. This is when creativity reaches its peak.
Is Quentin Tarantino a prime example of this? Quentin Tarantino. While his films are renowned for their wildness, they also serve as masterclasses in structure, homage, and pacing. The chaos is carefully crafted. Randomness isnât creativity. Itâs the deliberate subversion of form that makes people sit up and pay attention.
Learn the rules, then colour outside the lines
Being creative isnât about rejecting structureâitâs about learning it well enough to remix it in your voice. So go aheadâstudy. Experiment. Respect the form. Then break it with purpose.
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