Hoboken Almanac - Walter Trego

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Walter Trego - August, 2002

The Origin of the Idea

I was asked a while ago "where do ideas originate?" I really was not prepared with an answer so I simply answered with, "I have no idea." That's right, answer the question with the question. This technique has never failed man?!

Later when I arrived at my home I noticed an old copy of "Life" on the floor that I was planning on framing and hanging up. On the cover of the issue was Marilyn Monroe in all of her glory jumping for the camera of Philippe Halsman. I thought to myself, here is a man who not only came up with a catchy and amusing form of photography, but he also made it into a science that every one could enjoy. Where did his idea come from? What came first, the idea for the photographs, or the analyzations he would make of them? I left it go and proceeded to put my groceries away before I would retire for the evening.

At about two in the morning I awoke out of nowhere with the burning desire to know where Halsman's ideas had come from and what was his inspiration. So I drugged my fatigued body to the bookshelf in the living room and through hazy eyes found my copy of Jump. I perused the first couple of pages and found it amusing that I had never read the first few pages before and they were about people who don't read all of the words in picture books. Huh, what irony! After a few moments I found what I was looking for. However, it was not quite as monumental as I was hoping for... he was in the process of getting drunk, or was, when the idea hit him.

I'm pretty sure that not all great ideas are derived from liquor, but if they are I am up the proverbial creek with out a paddle since my pallet dose not enjoy many fermented beverages. Of course this could be the reason why most of my ideas don't go over well with others, they aren't inebriated at the time.

Ultimately, I believe that ideas are of a "Jungian" (Karl Jung) frame of mind. Ideas come to man through inspirations and are derived from our life experiences. Archetypal images probably make up a great deal of the idea process as well. I proposed this idea to my Psychology teacher and she told me I was basically on the right track with my hypothesis. She suggested that I read a book that was partially written by Jung called Man and His Symbols.

I have gone out and purchased a copy of the book and I am planning on reading it but, if you have any thoughts on the subject please let me know. You can reach me at WalterTrego@aol.com.

Walter Trego Jr.
August, 2002

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