Learn to be creative!

Think back to the games you played as a child.

Remember how much you learned?

Games allow a random element to intrude into a situation.

Games are a source of new ideas.

The Surrealist art movement used parlour games to free-up the imagination.

Here's a 'parlour' game called Exquisite Corpse.

The first time this game was played the following sentence came out:

'The exquisite corpse shall drink new wine'

Which is how it got its name!

Here's another longer example:

'Caraco is a lovely bitch: lazy as a dormouse and gloved in glass so as not to have to do a thing, she strings pearls to pay the piper'

And another:

'The endless sex sleeps with the orthodox tongue'

How to play:

Here's a variation especially adapted for email!
(the normal rules are reproduced below):

Open a new email and address it to me:
gatehouse_gatehouse@yahoo.com

In the subject line type:
'Exquisite Corpse'

In the body of the email type a word such as:
'The', 'A', 'These', 'Another'

Sounds too simple?

Humour me.

Someone will reply to your email with the next set of instructions.

That's it for now!

You need to wait until you get your reply before going on.

Don't forget to send that email!

The conventional rules of Exquisite Corpse
(This bit still in construction)

Definite or indefinite article

Adjective

Noun

Verb

Definite or infinite article

Adjective

Noun

Usually you settle down with about three other players and writes down your responses on a long narrow strip of paper. Using the first inch of paper then fold it over so to hide it then pass it to the person on your left (everyone does the same).

Surrealism is probably the most important artistic movement of our times and has totally transformed the way we see our world. Outside of the art world, its influence extends from the use of military camoflage to modern advertising techniques.

Further reading see: A Book of Surrealist Games compiled by Alastair Brotchie (Shamballa Publication 1991)