Is it Creative Habit or Rhetoric?
On the topic of rhetoric it is everywhere on our social media pages, our favorite movies, the way we speak and even dress. It is amazing to see how the topic of rhetoric goes on to form this triangular form. There is the topic that is trying to be persuaded upon the audience through the author or illustrators point of view.
With the new semester I took a giant step into taking a new class that would be completely outside of our comfort zone. So here it goes imagine me biochemistry major taking performing arts 101. Here is a word to the wise when entering this class no it is not a dance class this is more of an evolution of theater arts (yes a big disappointment). We are currently reading a book called The Creative Habit Learn by Twyla Tharp. Although this book is an assigned reading for performing arts it includes more rhetoric then any book I have ever read and this book would be a shame not to use in my examples of rhetoric.
To give this book a bit of background Twyla Tharp is a famous dancer and choreographer. The book written was to help form creative thinking and a better understanding of why we do certain things in our daily lives and consider them a comfort without noticing. In her first chapter she explains how from her own personal experience that shows must always go on no matter how big or small the situation that the world will not stop for anyone. She speaks from a choreographers point of view and discusses how there’s a ladder effect on just missing one show and how that amounts to everyone going negative in making money that day of not practicing or preforming.
The next chapter discusses rituals and they are not always doing everything at the same time every single day. A ritual is not always daily and it can happen at any point of the day, sometimes at various times of the day. For example, Twala goes on to discuss how she knows a chef who cannot start his day until he tends to his herbs and spices. This is some people feel there comfort and when this was said I immediately went through my day trying to figure out what my daily ritual was and if it stands out to other people. Twala is right everyone has a ritual whether it be big or small there is something that is done daily that would throw off ones day if it was not done daily.
This book would not be assigned to a dance class unless it was trying to get us to consider thinking a certain way. I believe that Twyla Tharp’s book has me slowly becoming more of a creative thinker. She even has me thinking I will become this famous performer which probably will not happen – but she has me thinking that I will. Maybe through this book I will push myself out of my comfort zone.
