Bisociation: Etymology, Meanings and Concept
Etymology/Term:
The term “bisociation” originated from the work of Hungarian-British author and theorist Arthur Koestler. It combines “bi-” meaning two and “association,” reflecting the idea of bringing together two seemingly unrelated concepts or domains to create new and unexpected connections.
Meanings and Concept:
- Creative Insight: Bisociation is a cognitive process linked to creativity, involving the simultaneous association of ideas from two disparate mental domains to generate innovative insights or solutions.
- Humor and Juxtaposition: In humor theory, bisociation is essential for understanding the mechanisms behind jokes, where unexpected connections between incongruent ideas produce laughter.
- Cross-Disciplinary Thinking: Bisociation encourages cross-disciplinary thinking, as it involves bridging concepts from different fields to stimulate novel perspectives and breakthroughs.
- Problem Solving: Applied in problem-solving contexts, bisociation allows individuals to approach challenges by merging diverse knowledge or viewpoints, fostering unconventional solutions.
- Koestler’s Theory: Arthur Koestler, in his book “The Act of Creation,” introduced bisociation as a key element in the creative process, proposing that it underlies various forms of human creativity, from scientific discovery to artistic innovation.
Bisociation: Definition of a Theoretical Term
Bisociation, a theoretical term introduced by Arthur Koestler, refers to the cognitive process of connecting ideas from two distinct mental domains simultaneously. It involves the merging of seemingly unrelated concepts, leading to the creation of novel insights or solutions. Koestler’s concept of bisociation is central to understanding creativity, humor, and cross-disciplinary thinking.
Bisociation: Theorists, Works and Argument
| Theorist | Key Works | Central Argument |
| Arthur Koestler | The Act of Creation (1964) | Koestler argues that bisociation is a fundamental mechanism in human creativity, proposing that innovative ideas emerge through the simultaneous connection of unrelated mental domains. His work explores bisociation’s role in scientific discovery, artistic creation, and problem-solving. |
Bisociation: Major Characteristics
- Creativity through Unexpected Connections:
- Bisociation involves the amalgamation of ideas from disparate mental domains, fostering creativity through unexpected connections.
- Example: The surrealist works of Salvador Dalí, where dreamlike and irrational elements are combined to evoke new perspectives and emotions.
- Humor and Juxtaposition:
- Bisociation plays a crucial role in humor, relying on the juxtaposition of incongruent ideas to create comedic effects.
- Example: The wit of Oscar Wilde, who often used bisociation in his plays, such as in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” where the trivial and the serious are humorously juxtaposed.
- Cross-Disciplinary Thinking:
- Bisociation encourages cross-disciplinary thinking, where ideas from different fields converge to produce innovative insights.
- Example: Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, where his sketches and writings demonstrate bisociative thinking by combining artistic concepts with scientific observations.
- Problem Solving and Unconventional Solutions:
- Applied in problem-solving, bisociation enables individuals to approach challenges with unconventional solutions by merging diverse knowledge or viewpoints.
- Example: Archimedes’ famous “Eureka” moment, where he discovered a solution to a problem by bisociating principles from fluid mechanics with the concept of density.
- Koestler’s Theory in Literature:
- Arthur Koestler’s concept of bisociation in literature underscores the role of unexpected connections in fostering creativity and generating novel ideas.
- Example: James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” where the blending of various literary styles and linguistic innovations demonstrates bisociative thinking in the realm of fiction.
Bisociation: Relevance in Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | Relevance to Bisociation |
| Structuralism | IT challenges structuralist notions by introducing unexpected connections that disrupt traditional literary structures, promoting dynamic and unconventional narratives. |
| Postmodernism | Integral to postmodernism, it aligns with the movement’s emphasis on breaking down boundaries, blending genres, and creating novel juxtapositions in literature. |
| Reader-Response | It engages readers by introducing unexpected connections, fostering diverse interpretations and responses to the literary text. |
| Psychoanalytic Criticism | It can be explored in the context of psychoanalytic criticism, examining how unexpected connections in literature reflect the complexities of the human psyche. |
| Feminist Criticism | Relevant to feminist literary theories, it allows for the exploration of unconventional connections in gender narratives, challenging traditional gender roles in literature. |
| Postcolonialism | It, in postcolonial literature, disrupts conventional narratives, offering fresh perspectives that challenge colonial discourse and introduce unexpected connections. |
Bisociation: Application in Critiques
- Salvador Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory”:
- Application of Creativity: Bisociation can be applied to analyze Dalí’s iconic painting, demonstrating how the unexpected connections between melting clocks and distorted landscapes evoke creative and surreal imagery, challenging conventional perceptions of time.
- Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”:
- Humor and Juxtaposition: A critique of Wilde’s play through the lens of bisociation would explore how he skillfully employs humor through the juxtaposition of serious social issues with trivial situations, creating comedic effects by blending incongruent elements.
- Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebooks:
- Cross-Disciplinary Thinking: Applying bisociation to da Vinci’s notebooks reveals how his sketches and writings showcase cross-disciplinary thinking, combining artistic creativity with scientific observations to generate innovative ideas in various fields.
- James Joyce’s “Ulysses”:
- Literary Innovation: A critique of “Ulysses” using bisociation would examine Joyce’s groundbreaking approach to literature, demonstrating how he blends diverse literary styles and linguistic innovations to create unexpected connections, contributing to the novel’s literary innovation.
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”:
- Postcolonial Context: Analyzing Marquez’s novel through bisociation in a postcolonial critique would explore how he disrupts conventional narratives, introducing unexpected connections that challenge colonial discourse and offer fresh perspectives on Latin American history and culture.
Relevant Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Deconstruction | The analysis of textual elements to reveal hidden meanings. |
| Intentionality | The author’s intended meaning in a literary work. |
| Ekphrasis | The vivid description of visual art in literature. |
| Metafiction | Fiction that acknowledges its fictional nature. |
| Intertextual | Connections between texts and their influences on one another. |
| Tropes | Figures of speech or literary devices. |
| Diegesis | The fictional world created by a narrative. |
| Polyphony | The presence of multiple narrative voices. |
| Semiotics | The study of signs and symbols in literature. |
| Verisimilitude | The appearance of being true or real in a literary work. |
Bisociation: Suggested Readings
- Koestler, Arthur. The Act of Creation. Penguin Books, 1989.
- Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest. Dover Publications, 1990.
- Joyce, James. Ulysses. Vintage Books, 1990.
- Dalí, Salvador. Dalí: The Persistence of Memory. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2008.
- Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper Perennial, 2006.