Week 14: StoryLab

The Power of Creative Constraints 

TedEd videos: creative and writing style

Constraints play a special role in helping drive design and experiment. Without constraints and a little guidance we wouldn't know where to begin with our own creativity. 

In the video, the example they use is our mission to put something on Mars without releasing chemicals onto the soil. In 1996, scientists were able to figure out a paper bag tactic where the object would roll to a stop. Fast forward to 2011 engineers had made the Rover and we wanted to continue to explore Mars without interfering with its soil. They invented a sky crane! These are both examples of constraints, that were the catalyst for creative thinking and experimentation. 

"Solutions recognize the current limitations in technology in order to advance it."

Constraints guide decision making and that is super impactful. Sometimes unintentional experiments lead to the discovery of something new and better. Constraints aren't limitations, but the foundation of experimentation. 

(video)

Week 14: Reading Notes (Italian Popular Tales Part A)

Zelinda and the Monster

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

• This is the Italian version of Beauty and the Beast 
• A poor man had three daughters 
• The youngest was the most civil and the fairest 
• Every January the man would travel to a fair in a neighboring town 
• One daughter asked for a dress, one asked for a shawl, and Zelinda asked for a rose 
• The man easily found the dress and shawl, but had to leave the fair to look for a rose for his dear Zelinda 
• He came upon a huge castle
• There was every kind of flower you could think of 
• The house looked dead and vacant, so he reached and picked a rose 
• All of a sudden, flames came from the Earth and a scary dragon shaped figure came from the castle 
• The monster wanted to kill then man, but instead settled for allowing him to return home and bring back the daughter that wanted the rose 
• Zelinda understood what had to be done and traveled back to the Monster with her father 
• They arrived and were treated very well, they were able to stay and the castle and they were provided a huge breakfast before the father had to leave Zelinda under the Monster's power 
• Once Zelinda's father left, the Monster was so nice to Zelinda. He treated her like a queen and asked if she would marry him 
• Zelinda couldn't commit because of the way the monster looked
• One day the monster called out to Zelinda in a haste 
• He said, "Listen, Zelinda: if you do not consent to marry me, it is fated that your father must die. He is ill and near the end of his life, and you will not be able even to see him again. See whether I am telling you the truth."
• He began drawing out an enchanted mirror and there she saw her father on his deathbed 
• Without hesitation Zelinda promised to marry the monster and be a loyal wife 
• She wanted to hug her father one last time 
• After she said those words, the monster turned into a handsome young prince

[Crane did not translate the rest of the story but just summarized it as follows: Zelinda and her husband strive to obtain his parents' consent to his marriage. They refuse and the young couple run away from the royal palace and fall into the power of an ogre and his wife, from whom they at last escape.]

(Zelinda, her father, and the Monster)