Genius is an egosystem, scenius is an ecosystem.
Musician Brian Eno coined the term scenius to describe a community of genius people who work together to create work greater than the sum of its creators and to support each other.
Most new movements and leaps forward in culture usually come from groups of creatives encouraging each other; competing with and arguing with each other; reacting for or against each others’ work. - Scenius: why creatives are stronger together - The Creative Life
Compared to the idea of self-made successes, scenius highlights the importance of collaboration and having a social group where members elevate each other.
Editor Kevin Kelly writes about four factors he considers to be important in nurturing a scenius:
• Mutual appreciation — Risky moves are applauded by the group, subtlety is appreciated, and friendly competition goads the shy. Scenius can be thought of as the best of peer pressure.
• Rapid exchange of tools and techniques — As soon as something is invented, it is flaunted and then shared. Ideas flow quickly because they are flowing inside a common language and sensibility.
• Network effects of success — When a record is broken, a hit happens, or breakthrough erupts, the success is claimed by the entire scene. This empowers the scene to further success.
• Local tolerance for the novelties — The local “outside” does not push back too hard against the transgressions of the scene. The renegades and mavericks are protected by this buffer zone.