A Creative Exercise: The Proust Questionnaire

The Proust Questionnaire

Exercise: This 137-year-old personality test, the Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist, and novelist. He believed that by answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. 

Popularized by Vanity Fair magazine, they published the Proust Questionnaire for years at the end of every issue completed by a different celebrity. Eventually, the magazine's editor compiled the best ones and published a book, “Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire: 101 Luminaries Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life”. 

Few creative thinking exercises have garnered as much attention with notable leaders in every field having partaken in the activity, from the Obamas to Bette Midler and Aretha Franklin. Be like these great luminaries and Proust himself, and dare to answer all the questions using the form at the end of this story. (Share with us or share your favorite answers by tagging @PilgrimSoulCreative or using #ProustQuestionsPS)

How it Helps Creativity

Why: At the heart of it, the Proust Questionnaire was designed on the basis of self exploration, enabling sometimes surprising discovery uncovering your outlook on life and how you think. Answered by a great number of historical figures (Oscar Wilde, Paul Cezanne, David Bowie, and many others), this questionnaire distills insights about personality and offers clarity on what one truly values most in life. There can be no greater illustration of creative reflection. 

In addition to enhancing self understanding, the exercise has been used with great popularity by writers throughout the world as part of developing main characters within their stories. It remains common practice for writers to ask their characters questions, to essentially interview them, as a way of getting to know them before they commence writing. The Proust Questionnaire provides a valuable framework for that process. The better a writer knows their characters, the richer they will be, and the easier the story may be to write. 

So use the Proust Questionnaire to increase creative thinking, use it as part of a creative process to develop your craft, or simply use it for fun.

CLASSIC EXAMPLES

David Bowie’s Answers. Seth Rogen’s Answers.

Ricky Gervais’s Answers. .Samantha Bee’s Answers

See George Carlin’s Answers at the bottom of this page

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