Anzaldua vs. Tharp

I thought the readings were going to be a pain, when I saw how long they were, but it turned out to be a good read. I really enjoyed reading what goes on in a mind of a story writer, a choreographer, and other artists. If there's one thing I'd like to say, it is that these people really know themselves and are able to coherently express their thoughts. The subject of the matter is pretty hard to explain as it is, and both authors did an excellent job describing, explaining and visualizing their thoughts. Both articles had similarities in the fact that they both described how they went about creating and their thoughts on creativity. Both authors had to create something out of nothing. Both authors felts some sort of anxiety or fear. Both authors were also on a time schedule or under pressure of finishing their work. I would also say that both authors did have their habits. Their motives for having habits may have been different, but they both did it consciously or not. Anzaldua often walked along the beach and observed the waves and the weather. Tharp gets up early in the morning to exercise. Now, Tharp was the one that was big on rituals and habits. This was a very interesting concept and idea that she brought up. I am still uneasy to accept her proposition that creativity comes from daily rituals and habits. Now, I'm not too sure if that was what she was exactly proposing but I'd like to believe it's along those lines. I think I agree with her to an extent. I do believe that people can be excellent with something with hard work, habits, rituals, etc. However a person can only go so far with just doing daily rituals. It's hard for me to believe that a person will create something awesome from abiding by daily rituals and habits, and suddenly they create something. No, I would like to believe that true talent or creativity comes from a person's ability to make something incredible without thinking about it much; it must come natrually. In that repect, I can side more easily with Anzaldua's story when she finally decideds to forget her troubles, anxiety and pressures. Only when she threw everything out, that's when she truely began to write. Tharp's way of thinking isn't bad at all; I think habitual practice is a good tool that can get you where you want to be. I like to look at guitar playing this way; you want to practice as much as you can, habitually, and ritually, so that there is nothing technically or physically inhibiting you when you begin creating. You may have all these great ideas in your mind, but it is useless if you can't bridge your ideas from your head, to your hands. Practicing, habits and rituals are the bridges that connect your mind to reality. However, the principal creativity comes naturally from the mind and soul, not your habitual excercises.