Steal Like An Artist: Austin Kleon at TEDxKC

The Myth of Originality00:00:16

Kleon uses the example of Igor Stravinsky to argue that art is often a process of borrowing and reinterpreting existing works rather than creating from a vacuum.

Finding Inspiration in Newspapers00:02:12

Struggling with writer's block, Kleon began creating 'newspaper blackout poems' by redacting articles, realizing that creativity involves collecting and refining ideas from everyday sources.

The Genealogy of Ideas00:04:04

Kleon traces the history of his blackout method back through various artists like Tom Phillips, William Burroughs, and Tristan Tzara, illustrating that every new idea is a remix of what came before.

How to Steal Like an Artist00:08:12

Kleon advocates for being a 'creative kleptomaniac' who curates influences to build a personal lineage of inspiration, emphasizing that true talent lies in transforming stolen ideas into something original.

Closing Encouragement00:10:25

Kleon encourages the audience to take pieces of inspiration from their experiences and the people they meet, combine them with their own thoughts, and share the result with the world.