Seeing Faces in Clouds
Pareidolia is the phenomenon of seeing faces in objects. Apophenia is the broader tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things.
Scientists call it a "Type I Error". Artists call it "Inspiration".
Harnessing Apophenia
MiroCards is an "Apophenia Engine". It presents you with random stimuli (chaos) and invites your brain to impose order (pattern).
The Exercise:
- Draw 3 random cards.
- Assume there IS a secret connection between them.
- Invent a conspiracy theory / story / logic that links them all.
This forces your brain to stretch its associative muscles. It's weightlifting for your imagination.
"Creativity is just connecting things." — Steve Jobs