Eno
was fascinated more by the process of making music than by the outcome. He was
already experimenting with rules based composition. Eno and Peter Schmidt developed
a set of cards which aided in the creative process by allowing him to access
a random phrase which could be used to guide his creative processes. They were
descriptively dubbed Oblique Strategies. Here is a little sample of some Oblique
Strategies:
In total darkness, or in a very large room, very quietly
What would your closest friend do?
Use 'unqualified' people
Give way to your worst impulse
Idiot glee (?)
Accept advice
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Some of the cards are pretty oblique(!), so perhaps a little herbal accompaniment makes them more accessible(!). There is a good little program for Win 95 which will allow you to shuffle and view cards here.
The Oblique Strategies have just been released again (Dec 2001) in a fifth edition. I got my copy today. Not as smart or colourful as previous versions, but nice to have as this is my first set of real physical cards. They come in a plain black box with gold stamping around the lid rim and are printed on card that is plain black on the back. They look as if they are printed onto half cut card, like the cards where you separate or push out individual cards in a game or similar. I will add a couple of pictures for your interest when I get time. EnoWeb has details of how to order your own set, including a form you can use for direct ordering from Opal Ltd.