I’m one of those people who loves to look through old photos. I enjoy mocking the styles and sounds of the past. I also enjoy reminiscing about the good times and pining over the things we thought were great back in the day. I like to remember the things we took for granted then and consider how cool we think they are now. I’m also a guy who likes innovation, new things, fresh ideas and styles. How can I be two people? I don’t know…I just am, and you are too.
If you’re like me, you like things old and new. Maybe even best when vintage styles are refreshed with modern approaches. Like a wood steering wheel on a new sports car. Retro combined with newness often connects us with our past while providing the late-model performance we demand.
So, why is it that we are so repulsed by the idea of revisiting a creative approach we previously did years ago? Why do we snicker at the word “re-purposed” and mutter to ourselves “translation: you don’t have a new idea”?
This isn’t the case in music. I can tell you, as a musician, showing some old influences can be very cool. Throw a reference to a Steely Dan song in your modern composition and you’ll get some smiles for sure. (If you don’t know who Steely Dan is….please stop reading now). Nod to a Beatles harmony style and people just love it.
So, we shouldn’t be so repulsed by the thought that something we did years ago may work in some way today. Why not sift through some program ideas we did a while back and see what new ideas come? I’m not suggesting blatant repeats. I am saying that good ideas can come from other good ideas. Maybe even fresh ideas from old concepts? Looking back is not such a bad thing. Consider that you are on a continuous creative path. You are where you are now as a result of your journey on this path. It was probably a decent journey too, or you wouldn’t be around to tell the story. Turn around and look down the creative road you just travelled. Review your old work and appreciate the progression you are on.
Don’t go back looking for mullett hair styles or black leather vests, but maybe inspire yourself with your own bad self. Learn from what you did and use that to guide yourself into the future. I bet you’ll gain a new perspective on who you are and where you’re going. Or you’ll get a good laugh and vow to never try a crazy idea like that again. In either case…you’ll be better for the experience.