https://simplecast.com The Provisional Necessity is the mother of invention. Is that true? And if so, how does it work? And what do provisional solutions have to do with it? With the help of well-known film scenes, this podcast describes creativity from a new perspective and examines its connection to crises and disasters. 2021-2025 Margit Schild, The Provisional en Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:19:55 +0000 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:20:06 +0000 https://the-provisional.simplecast.com The Provisional https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/0ceb690d-4e62-4ae0-ac8f-000bc84ebfdf/1e2478a3-c782-48ba-ba71-ff302cbad9c5/3000x3000/the-20provisional-m-schild-2025.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-provisional.simplecast.com episodic Necessity is the mother of invention. Is that true? And if so, how does it work? And what do provisional solutions have to do with it? With the help of well-known film scenes, this podcast describes creativity from a new perspective and examines its connection to crises and disasters. Margit Schild false https://feeds.simplecast.com/Upbkh7Kh catastrophe, crises, problem-solving, self-empowerment Margit Schild margit.schild@gmx.de 98516686-3337-4da7-8bfb-ef16a2a58fb9 Just a few seconds — about being creative in a short time “When everything changes from one second to the next” is a common phrase that expresses moments of important encounters or fateful events. It highlights the creative - even life-changing - potential that lies dormant within even the smallest units of time, both in a positive and a negative sense.

But being intentionally creative in just a few seconds - how is that even possible?

Some experts develop extraordinary skills when they have to react very quickly - simultaneous interpreters, boxers, or even artists.

Interestingly, even some of the brief everyday actions we perform almost unconsciously - such as tying our shoes or locking the door - are based on the same phenomenon. What could it be? Listen to my new episode.

Sources:

About Elvira Hufschmid:

BAS. (2017). Out of the Blue. From the Provisional to Improvisation. International Symposium, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin. https://www.udk-berlin.de/forschung/bas/aktuelles/out-of-the-blue-vom-provisorium-bis-zur-improvisation/. 

About Elvira Hufschmid (in german):

Margit Schild (2025): Improvisation und Kreativität in Zeitkrisen, oder: Macht (Zeit-)Not erfinderisch? Ein Anstoß zur Diskussion, in: 

Dürkop-Henseling, L.; Horwitz, M; Späte, K. (Hrsg.): Sozialwissenschaftliche Beobachtungen von Krisen, Perspektiven, Instrumente und Erfahrungen. Reihe Sozialwissenschaften und Berufspraxis, herausgegeben vom Berufsverband Deutscher Soziologinnen und Soziologen e. V., Recklinghausen, Springer, Wiesbaden, S. 421

Sound: 

R19-02-Boxing Fight or Sparring.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/483261/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Music: 

spacedust by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64741

 

 

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:19:55 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/just-a-few-seconds-about-being-creative-in-a-short-time-Ijx1MRsM “When everything changes from one second to the next” is a common phrase that expresses moments of important encounters or fateful events. It highlights the creative - even life-changing - potential that lies dormant within even the smallest units of time, both in a positive and a negative sense.

But being intentionally creative in just a few seconds - how is that even possible?

Some experts develop extraordinary skills when they have to react very quickly - simultaneous interpreters, boxers, or even artists.

Interestingly, even some of the brief everyday actions we perform almost unconsciously - such as tying our shoes or locking the door - are based on the same phenomenon. What could it be? Listen to my new episode.

Sources:

About Elvira Hufschmid:

BAS. (2017). Out of the Blue. From the Provisional to Improvisation. International Symposium, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin. https://www.udk-berlin.de/forschung/bas/aktuelles/out-of-the-blue-vom-provisorium-bis-zur-improvisation/. 

About Elvira Hufschmid (in german):

Margit Schild (2025): Improvisation und Kreativität in Zeitkrisen, oder: Macht (Zeit-)Not erfinderisch? Ein Anstoß zur Diskussion, in: 

Dürkop-Henseling, L.; Horwitz, M; Späte, K. (Hrsg.): Sozialwissenschaftliche Beobachtungen von Krisen, Perspektiven, Instrumente und Erfahrungen. Reihe Sozialwissenschaften und Berufspraxis, herausgegeben vom Berufsverband Deutscher Soziologinnen und Soziologen e. V., Recklinghausen, Springer, Wiesbaden, S. 421

Sound: 

R19-02-Boxing Fight or Sparring.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/483261/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Music: 

spacedust by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64741

 

 

]]> Just a few seconds — about being creative in a short time Margit Schild 00:25:30 “From one second to the next, everything can change - a reminder of the creative, even life-shaping power hidden in tiny moments, for better or worse. But how can we be intentionally creative in just a few seconds? Some people master it - interpreters, boxers, even artists. And surprisingly, so do we, in everyday actions like tying our shoes or locking the door. What’s behind it? Listen to my new episode.” “From one second to the next, everything can change - a reminder of the creative, even life-shaping power hidden in tiny moments, for better or worse. But how can we be intentionally creative in just a few seconds? Some people master it - interpreters, boxers, even artists. And surprisingly, so do we, in everyday actions like tying our shoes or locking the door. What’s behind it? Listen to my new episode.” problem-solving, crises preparation, creativity, art, design false full 9 b49a91d6-4399-4e26-b948-c767d4e5909b Lighting a counter fire, or: how does creativity emerge in an emergency situation? Sorry for the delay of this episode. I was dealing with an important family matter.

"Lighting a counter fire, or: What conditions are necessary for creativity to emerge in an emergency situation?" 

This is the central question of this episode, and of the podcast in general, and I address it through examples from fire fighting and kayaking, along with film scenes from World War Z, Titanic and Jaws.

Possible answers are simple and challenging at the same time. 

Sources used:

Film:

Jaws (1975), directed bySteven Spielberg, United States, Universal Pictures, with Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss

Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron, United States, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

World War Z (2013), directed by Marc Foster, United States, Skydance Productions a.o., Paramount Pictures, with Brad Pitt and Mireille Enos

More information about the Mann Gulch fire: 

Weick, K. E. (1996). Drop your tools: An allegory for organizational studies.Administrative Science Quarterly; June, 41, 2, S. 301- 313.

About fire safety:

https://ssl.eas.ualberta.ca/safety/26-fire-safety/?utm

Sound: 

lg water3.wav by lgarrett -- https://freesound.org/s/17143/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

Music: 

roboduck by airtone (c) copyright 2023 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/66098

]]> Thu, 8 Jan 2026 23:25:30 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/lighting-a-counter-fire-or-how-does-creativity-emerge-in-an-emergency-situation-j7165N_1 Sorry for the delay of this episode. I was dealing with an important family matter.

"Lighting a counter fire, or: What conditions are necessary for creativity to emerge in an emergency situation?" 

This is the central question of this episode, and of the podcast in general, and I address it through examples from fire fighting and kayaking, along with film scenes from World War Z, Titanic and Jaws.

Possible answers are simple and challenging at the same time. 

Sources used:

Film:

Jaws (1975), directed bySteven Spielberg, United States, Universal Pictures, with Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss

Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron, United States, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

World War Z (2013), directed by Marc Foster, United States, Skydance Productions a.o., Paramount Pictures, with Brad Pitt and Mireille Enos

More information about the Mann Gulch fire: 

Weick, K. E. (1996). Drop your tools: An allegory for organizational studies.Administrative Science Quarterly; June, 41, 2, S. 301- 313.

About fire safety:

https://ssl.eas.ualberta.ca/safety/26-fire-safety/?utm

Sound: 

lg water3.wav by lgarrett -- https://freesound.org/s/17143/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

Music: 

roboduck by airtone (c) copyright 2023 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/66098

]]> Lighting a counter fire, or: how does creativity emerge in an emergency situation? Margit Schild 00:23:18 What does creativity need to emerge in an emergency situation? I try to answer this question through examples from fire fighting and kayaking, along with film scenes from World War Z, Titanic and Jaws. Possible answers are simple and challenging at the same time. What does creativity need to emerge in an emergency situation? I try to answer this question through examples from fire fighting and kayaking, along with film scenes from World War Z, Titanic and Jaws. Possible answers are simple and challenging at the same time. problem-solving, crises preparation, creativity, art, design false full 8 55db4b0f-014a-4d70-80ea-10c6d52f3336 Wrong decisions, or: fire and the search for orientation. "How is it that people would rather burn in a house than run out into the street without pants?" Harald Welzer (a social psychologist from Germany) once asked. The answer to this very interesting question is certainly not that people were irrational or crazy.

Instead, this episode shows that, from a certain perspective, something very understandable, almost normal, is happening here. But it also becomes clear why, precisely for this reason, good improvisation is so difficult in time-critical and dangerous situations.

Find out why.

 

More information about the Mann Gulch fire: 

Weick, K. E. (1996). Drop your tools: An allegory for organizational studies.Administrative Science Quarterly; June, 41, 2, S. 301- 313.

"How is it that people prefer to be burnt to death in a house, instead of running out into the street without their trousers on?" was asked by Harald Welzer, in his talk:  Who Acts When and Why Not? Symposium "Out of the Blue. From Provisional to Improvisation", 27-29 October 2017, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, House of World Cultures, Berlin, p. 1, https://www.udk-berlin.de/fileadmin/2_dezentral/Forschung/FR_Postgraduales_Forum/Harald_Welzer_ENG_HKW_2017.pdf

Artistic director of the Symposium: Margit Schild

The german word "Schreckstarre" means "stiffness caused by fear" (PONS);

Späti, means Spätkauf, a late night corner shop common in Berlin.

Sound:

Ambiance_Fire_Bushes_Loop_Stereo.wav by Nox_Sound -- https://freesound.org/s/564621/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Musik: 

diffusion by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64852

]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:34:17 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/wrong-decisions-or-fire-and-the-search-for-orientation-UwQoTOn0 "How is it that people would rather burn in a house than run out into the street without pants?" Harald Welzer (a social psychologist from Germany) once asked. The answer to this very interesting question is certainly not that people were irrational or crazy.

Instead, this episode shows that, from a certain perspective, something very understandable, almost normal, is happening here. But it also becomes clear why, precisely for this reason, good improvisation is so difficult in time-critical and dangerous situations.

Find out why.

 

More information about the Mann Gulch fire: 

Weick, K. E. (1996). Drop your tools: An allegory for organizational studies.Administrative Science Quarterly; June, 41, 2, S. 301- 313.

"How is it that people prefer to be burnt to death in a house, instead of running out into the street without their trousers on?" was asked by Harald Welzer, in his talk:  Who Acts When and Why Not? Symposium "Out of the Blue. From Provisional to Improvisation", 27-29 October 2017, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, House of World Cultures, Berlin, p. 1, https://www.udk-berlin.de/fileadmin/2_dezentral/Forschung/FR_Postgraduales_Forum/Harald_Welzer_ENG_HKW_2017.pdf

Artistic director of the Symposium: Margit Schild

The german word "Schreckstarre" means "stiffness caused by fear" (PONS);

Späti, means Spätkauf, a late night corner shop common in Berlin.

Sound:

Ambiance_Fire_Bushes_Loop_Stereo.wav by Nox_Sound -- https://freesound.org/s/564621/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Musik: 

diffusion by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64852

]]> Wrong decisions, or: fire and the search for orientation. Margit Schild 00:23:42 "How is it that people would rather burn in a house than run out into the street without pants?" Harald Welzer (a social psychologist from Germany) once asked. The answer to this very interesting question is certainly not that people were irrational or crazy. Instead, this episode shows that, from a certain perspective, something very understandable, almost normal, is happening here. But it also becomes clear why, precisely for this reason, good improvisation is so difficult in time-critical and dangerous situations. Find out why. "How is it that people would rather burn in a house than run out into the street without pants?" Harald Welzer (a social psychologist from Germany) once asked. The answer to this very interesting question is certainly not that people were irrational or crazy. Instead, this episode shows that, from a certain perspective, something very understandable, almost normal, is happening here. But it also becomes clear why, precisely for this reason, good improvisation is so difficult in time-critical and dangerous situations. Find out why. problem-solving, crises preparation, creativity, art, crises, design false full 7 3a74aa76-71a8-4300-945f-bc069abb2ed2 Building Time Bridges: Improvisation “We have to improvise”—a phrase we often hear when something doesn’t go as planned, when a part is missing, when systems fail. It’s a word that surfaces often, especially in times of crisis.

Now, even though most of us have an intuitive sense of what improvisation is, but:

What exactly is it, what is improvisation?

It’s not an easy question to answer. But one thing is certain: time plays a crucial role.

Sources used:

Mascolo, G., (30. März 2023). Die Kunst des Überlebens. Süddeutsche Zeitung, S. 3

Voss, M. et al. (2022). Katastrophenbewältigung als sozialer Prozess: Vom Ideal- zum Realverständnis von Risiko-, Krisen- und Katastrophenmanagement. Notfallvorsorge 1/2022, Walhalla u. Praetoria Verlag.

Thirteen Lives, 2022, Film by Ron Howard

Tham Luang cave rescue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_cave_rescue

 

Musik: blackSnow by airtone (c) copyright 2021 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/63513

 

Sound of a hospital operating room: 

OR1.m4a by pschu -- https://freesound.org/s/624700/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

 

]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/building-time-bridges-improvisation-LXPl8jAc “We have to improvise”—a phrase we often hear when something doesn’t go as planned, when a part is missing, when systems fail. It’s a word that surfaces often, especially in times of crisis.

Now, even though most of us have an intuitive sense of what improvisation is, but:

What exactly is it, what is improvisation?

It’s not an easy question to answer. But one thing is certain: time plays a crucial role.

Sources used:

Mascolo, G., (30. März 2023). Die Kunst des Überlebens. Süddeutsche Zeitung, S. 3

Voss, M. et al. (2022). Katastrophenbewältigung als sozialer Prozess: Vom Ideal- zum Realverständnis von Risiko-, Krisen- und Katastrophenmanagement. Notfallvorsorge 1/2022, Walhalla u. Praetoria Verlag.

Thirteen Lives, 2022, Film by Ron Howard

Tham Luang cave rescue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_cave_rescue

 

Musik: blackSnow by airtone (c) copyright 2021 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/63513

 

Sound of a hospital operating room: 

OR1.m4a by pschu -- https://freesound.org/s/624700/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

 

]]> Building Time Bridges: Improvisation Margit Schild 00:26:44 In Apollo 13, the crew's motto became: “We are improvising a new mission.” In the film Cast Away, survival depended entirely on improvisation—until the protagonist gradually developed routines and skills through repetition: hunting, fishing, making fire. “We have to improvise”—a phrase we often hear when something doesn’t go as planned, when a part is missing, when systems fail. It’s a word that surfaces often, especially in times of crisis. Now, even though most of us have an intuitive sense of what improvisation is, but: What exactly is it, what is improvisation? It’s not an easy question to answer. But one thing is certain: time plays a crucial role. In Apollo 13, the crew's motto became: “We are improvising a new mission.” In the film Cast Away, survival depended entirely on improvisation—until the protagonist gradually developed routines and skills through repetition: hunting, fishing, making fire. “We have to improvise”—a phrase we often hear when something doesn’t go as planned, when a part is missing, when systems fail. It’s a word that surfaces often, especially in times of crisis. Now, even though most of us have an intuitive sense of what improvisation is, but: What exactly is it, what is improvisation? It’s not an easy question to answer. But one thing is certain: time plays a crucial role. false full 6 fe6ba437-221b-4ee3-955e-928268ab57a6 Creativity works like a marshalling yard, or: how to remove a spider from a wall Creativity works like a marshalling yard, or: how do I remove a spider from a wall, which is a real emergency for some? By using a drinking glass as a spider transport device. All this is nothing more than a core strategy of creativity.

Sources used:

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

Sound:
Water is poured into a glass 2 by tosha73 -- https://freesound.org/s/727382/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) directed by Jonathan Demme

Music:
reNovation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/60674

]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/creativity-works-like-a-marshalling-yard-or-how-to-remove-a-spider-from-a-wall-4fMnFxOa Creativity works like a marshalling yard, or: how do I remove a spider from a wall, which is a real emergency for some? By using a drinking glass as a spider transport device. All this is nothing more than a core strategy of creativity.

Sources used:

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

Sound:
Water is poured into a glass 2 by tosha73 -- https://freesound.org/s/727382/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) directed by Jonathan Demme

Music:
reNovation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/60674

]]> Creativity works like a marshalling yard, or: how to remove a spider from a wall Margit Schild 00:20:20 Creativity works like a marshalling yard, or: how do I remove a spider from a wall, which is a real emergency for some? By using a drinking glass as a spider transport device. All this is nothing more than a core strategy of creativity. This shift from a glass into a new context (or you can also say: category) is driven by recognizing similarities and intentionally reimagining their purpose. It's exactly this kind of thinking that allows us to find unexpected solutions in moments of crisis – that’s what makes it such an essential tool when things go wrong. Creativity works like a marshalling yard, or: how do I remove a spider from a wall, which is a real emergency for some? By using a drinking glass as a spider transport device. All this is nothing more than a core strategy of creativity. This shift from a glass into a new context (or you can also say: category) is driven by recognizing similarities and intentionally reimagining their purpose. It's exactly this kind of thinking that allows us to find unexpected solutions in moments of crisis – that’s what makes it such an essential tool when things go wrong. problem solving, crises preparation, creativity, art, design false full 5 65125d31-15d1-4e84-961f-246acda8c636 Analogical thinking and its allies, or: who or what invented Wilson? Analogical thinking and its allies, or: who or what invented Wilson?

A strong connection between analogical thinking, aesthetic perception, emotion, and memory came into play, helping the stranded man create a companion. Chuck's own contribution at the crucial moment? A minimal correction...and...distance.

Sources used:

Cast Away, Film from Robert Zemeckis, 2000, with Tom Hanks.

Ratatouille, Pixar Animation Studios, 2007

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

Music: spacedust by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64741

Sounds: RESTAURANT KITCHEN IS BUSY.wav by cpark12 -- https://freesound.org/s/347309/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

]]> Sun, 1 Jun 2025 16:59:49 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/analogical-thinking-and-its-allies-or-who-or-what-invented-wilson-Z74QWLz1 Analogical thinking and its allies, or: who or what invented Wilson?

A strong connection between analogical thinking, aesthetic perception, emotion, and memory came into play, helping the stranded man create a companion. Chuck's own contribution at the crucial moment? A minimal correction...and...distance.

Sources used:

Cast Away, Film from Robert Zemeckis, 2000, with Tom Hanks.

Ratatouille, Pixar Animation Studios, 2007

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

Music: spacedust by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64741

Sounds: RESTAURANT KITCHEN IS BUSY.wav by cpark12 -- https://freesound.org/s/347309/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

]]> Analogical thinking and its allies, or: who or what invented Wilson? Margit Schild 00:18:40 Analogical thinking and its allies, or: who or what invented Wilson? A strong connection between analogical thinking, aesthetic perception, emotion, and memory came into play, helping the stranded man create a companion. Chuck's own contribution at the crucial moment? A minimal correction...and...distance. Analogical thinking and its allies, or: who or what invented Wilson? A strong connection between analogical thinking, aesthetic perception, emotion, and memory came into play, helping the stranded man create a companion. Chuck's own contribution at the crucial moment? A minimal correction...and...distance. problem-solving, crises preparation, art, creativity preparation, design false full 4 64ca8622-e1fb-4bc3-a42d-87849d823909 How to deal with the "Arsenal of on-board Resources" In both Cast Away and Apollo 13, the protagonists had to rely on the arsenal of on-board resources. This podcast explores that concept—a term that comes into play when facing sudden emergencies or extraordinary situations. The *arsenal of on-board resources* can vary dramatically from one situation to another. 

Sources used:

Apollo 13, Film from Ron Howard, 1995. With Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris.

Cast Away, Film from Robert Zemeckis, 2000, with Tom Hanks.

Anne with an E, a Canadian period drama television series from Moira Walley-Becket, 2017, adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 Anne of Green Gables.

Fargo, Film from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 1996, with Frances McDormand.

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

Music: roboduck by airtone (c) copyright 2023 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/66098

]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 22:17:08 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-deal-with-the-arsenal-of-on-board-resources-BSf9ZBde In both Cast Away and Apollo 13, the protagonists had to rely on the arsenal of on-board resources. This podcast explores that concept—a term that comes into play when facing sudden emergencies or extraordinary situations. The *arsenal of on-board resources* can vary dramatically from one situation to another. 

Sources used:

Apollo 13, Film from Ron Howard, 1995. With Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris.

Cast Away, Film from Robert Zemeckis, 2000, with Tom Hanks.

Anne with an E, a Canadian period drama television series from Moira Walley-Becket, 2017, adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 Anne of Green Gables.

Fargo, Film from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 1996, with Frances McDormand.

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

Music: roboduck by airtone (c) copyright 2023 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/66098

]]> How to deal with the "Arsenal of on-board Resources" Margit Schild 00:29:03 In both Cast Away and Apollo 13, the protagonists had to rely on the arsenal of on-board resources. This podcast explores that concept—a term that comes into play when facing sudden emergencies or extraordinary situations. The *arsenal of on-board resources* can vary dramatically from one situation to another. The term also highlights how unpredictable these situations are. You never know when or where you’ll be forced to rely solely on what’s immediately available to you—whether that’s a piece of information, a household item, or a creative idea sparked by necessity. But how can we prepare for an unexpected situation that forces us to work creatively with whatever happens to be available—especially when we have no control over what those resources might be? In both Cast Away and Apollo 13, the protagonists had to rely on the arsenal of on-board resources. This podcast explores that concept—a term that comes into play when facing sudden emergencies or extraordinary situations. The *arsenal of on-board resources* can vary dramatically from one situation to another. The term also highlights how unpredictable these situations are. You never know when or where you’ll be forced to rely solely on what’s immediately available to you—whether that’s a piece of information, a household item, or a creative idea sparked by necessity. But how can we prepare for an unexpected situation that forces us to work creatively with whatever happens to be available—especially when we have no control over what those resources might be? problem-solving, crises preparation, creativity, art, design false full 3 01406f27-d7fd-49b1-aeb0-4bfe84173362 Wilson, the volleyball: how to create a provisional companion Wilson, the volleyball – a makeshift companion from the film Cast Away – demonstrates basic mechanisms of creative thinking. It is this similarity that not only allows one to build a provisional air filter made from cardboard and socks, but also helps with repurposing items and solving problems.

Sources used:

Cast away (2000),  from Robert Zemeckis, with Tom Hanks.

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

NASA Audiofile: images-assets.nasa.gov/audio/Apollo13Highlights/Apollo13Highlights~orig.wav

NASA Website:https://images.nasa.gov/details-Apollo13Highlights

Music: diffusion by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64852

 

 

 

]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:52:54 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/wilson-the-volleyball-how-to-create-a-provisional-companion-39W0XZ3T Wilson, the volleyball – a makeshift companion from the film Cast Away – demonstrates basic mechanisms of creative thinking. It is this similarity that not only allows one to build a provisional air filter made from cardboard and socks, but also helps with repurposing items and solving problems.

Sources used:

Cast away (2000),  from Robert Zemeckis, with Tom Hanks.

Hofstadter D. & Sander E. (2013). Surfaces and Essences. Analogies as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking, New York, Basic Books. 

NASA Audiofile: images-assets.nasa.gov/audio/Apollo13Highlights/Apollo13Highlights~orig.wav

NASA Website:https://images.nasa.gov/details-Apollo13Highlights

Music: diffusion by airtone (c) copyright 2022 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/64852

 

 

 

]]> Wilson, the volleyball: how to create a provisional companion Margit Schild 00:30:30 Wilson, the volleyball – a makeshift companion from the film Cast Away – demonstrates basic mechanisms of creative thinking. It is this similarity that not only allows one to build a provisional air filter made from cardboard and socks, but also helps with repurposing items and solving problems. Wilson, the volleyball – a makeshift companion from the film Cast Away – demonstrates basic mechanisms of creative thinking. It is this similarity that not only allows one to build a provisional air filter made from cardboard and socks, but also helps with repurposing items and solving problems. problem solving, provisional solutions, creativity, thinking in analogies, volleyball wilson false full 2 0ee36507-44bc-442b-b0de-e59d119d262f The "succesful failure" of Apollo 13. How a sock saves lives in high technology A sock, some cardboard - after the failed Apollo 13 moon mission from 1970, a number of improvisations and provisional solutions saved the lives of the three crew members and brought them back to earth. What mechanisms of creativity are behind it and where is the connection to everyday situations?

Sources used:

Apollo 13, Film from Ron Howard, 1995. With Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris.

All drawings by Margit Schild.

www.less-art.de, schule-des-provisorischen.de

Dramaturgy Consultant: Zach Clarke

Music: blackSnow by airtone (c) copyright 2021 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/63513

Supported by Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

 

 

]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2025 23:26:29 +0000 margit.schild@gmx.de (Margit Schild) https://the-provisional.simplecast.com/episodes/the-succesful-failure-of-apollo-13-how-a-sock-saves-lives-in-high-technology-yEJlcznO A sock, some cardboard - after the failed Apollo 13 moon mission from 1970, a number of improvisations and provisional solutions saved the lives of the three crew members and brought them back to earth. What mechanisms of creativity are behind it and where is the connection to everyday situations?

Sources used:

Apollo 13, Film from Ron Howard, 1995. With Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris.

All drawings by Margit Schild.

www.less-art.de, schule-des-provisorischen.de

Dramaturgy Consultant: Zach Clarke

Music: blackSnow by airtone (c) copyright 2021 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/63513

Supported by Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

 

 

]]> The "succesful failure" of Apollo 13. How a sock saves lives in high technology Margit Schild 00:22:00 A sock, some cardboard - after the failed Apollo 13 moon mission from 1970, a number of improvisations and provisional solutions saved the lives of the three crew members and brought them back to earth. What mechanisms of creativity are behind it and where is the connection to everyday situations? On April 11,1970—after the explosion of an oxygen tank—the Apollo 13 mission had to abandon its landing on the moon. The damaged systems required the rescue of the crew. In the Apollo 13 movie, NASA flight director Gene Kranz introduces his Houston team members to this new situation: ‘I want you to forget the flight plan. From this moment on we are improvising a new mission’ (Howard, 1995, 1:04:45). The explosion not only prevented the landing on the moon, but it was not at all clear how the crew could be rescued. Despite all emergency training, in this case, something happened that nobody had expected. Among other technical improvisations, the development/the design of the makeshift air filter created a way out of a rather hopeless situation. The engineers have checked how the arsenal of on-board resources is equipped, in other words, a visual inspection of all things available. And tried to put things together in the right way, like a puzzle, they looked for the right pieces that fit together, moved them back and forth, touched them, tried this and that, until they finally created a thing, a construction, that functioned as a CO 2- filter. How is this possible? This episode takes a closer look at the creative mechanisms at work here and how they may be relevant to every day problems. A sock, some cardboard - after the failed Apollo 13 moon mission from 1970, a number of improvisations and provisional solutions saved the lives of the three crew members and brought them back to earth. What mechanisms of creativity are behind it and where is the connection to everyday situations? On April 11,1970—after the explosion of an oxygen tank—the Apollo 13 mission had to abandon its landing on the moon. The damaged systems required the rescue of the crew. In the Apollo 13 movie, NASA flight director Gene Kranz introduces his Houston team members to this new situation: ‘I want you to forget the flight plan. From this moment on we are improvising a new mission’ (Howard, 1995, 1:04:45). The explosion not only prevented the landing on the moon, but it was not at all clear how the crew could be rescued. Despite all emergency training, in this case, something happened that nobody had expected. Among other technical improvisations, the development/the design of the makeshift air filter created a way out of a rather hopeless situation. The engineers have checked how the arsenal of on-board resources is equipped, in other words, a visual inspection of all things available. And tried to put things together in the right way, like a puzzle, they looked for the right pieces that fit together, moved them back and forth, touched them, tried this and that, until they finally created a thing, a construction, that functioned as a CO 2- filter. How is this possible? This episode takes a closer look at the creative mechanisms at work here and how they may be relevant to every day problems. problem-solving, crises preparation, creativity, art, crises, design false full 1