Creativity From The Pride of Baghdad

After a vacation to warm parts of the world, I have returned to areas with consistent internet access. So what does an Idea Drunk do on vacation? If you guessed get drunk, you are correct. But I also did some reading. One of the books that I read was a graphic novel called the “Pride of Baghdad”. It’s based on a true story, but told from the perspective of the lions. In 2003, when US forces bombed Baghdad, a pride of four lions escaped the Baghdad zoo. The roamed the war-torn city looking for food, contemplating freedom and wilderness. The were starving when they were eventually shot to death by invading US Troops.

The story may be read as an allegory. The destruction of the zoo and the short lived freedom of the lions can be seen to represent the decline of Iraqi society after being freed from Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party by the American invasion. This is illustrated by a comment made by one of the lions shortly after being freed: “There’s an old saying, Zill. Freedom can’t be given, only earned”.

Obviously, that’s a lot of heavy thinking for a graphic novel. But time and time again, graphic novels seem to be the genre that can successfully tackle and address sensitive social and political issues. They are able to act as parables that serve up the core of an idea in a simple form. But how can this be applied to ideation?

The next time you are trying to define a problem, draw it. Sketch a picture, construct a diagram …. whatever! The key is to create a visual expression of your problem. Use this as a starting point. Then try to weave the story of the problem and your solutions into a simplified story. Instead of explaining and pitching your ideas, just tell the story.

- Christian