It appears to me that rhythm is simply a pattern in movement. When we have
a system based on a stable structure and we lean it towards chaos, meaning
we create movement, we will be able to observe some kinds of patterns wish
we can call rhythm. Rhythm we could almost (almost) say, is the order of
chaos (abusive, but do you understand where I'm going?)
If we have a system of communication, where we are trying to create
movement within the other person's bag of concepts, our best hope of
avoiding chaos, of controlling the movement, is to control the rhythm so
that the movement/reasoning we are emiting is in harmony with the
movement/reasoning the other person is able to process. Thus getting a
higher chance of communicating.
This is interesting within the study of writing. For instance, if we get a
certain amount of information and we can choose between formating it as a
note/memo or a report, we must observe that the rhythm/speed of a memo is
much faster than that of a report. Thus the rhythm of processing of the
reader can be much slower when reading a report and get much higher level
of understanding even if the language of the memo is clearer than the
report's.
I don't know if this is true or not and it could simply mean that in a
report there is a higher amount of information just for the fact it is
longer in format, but it sure makes sense so far.
In creative writing, the rhythm could mean the difference between an
uninterested reader and the achievement of what I think is the ultimate
goal of a writer: the «feeling reader»(a reader that is actually feeling
the text). This also is communication. And this also depends on the
ability of the writer to build the rhythm to a level it can move the
reader without throwing him into the frightening chaos of disbelief. The
«suspension of disbelief» the writers so much depend upon cannot be
disconnected from some sense of identification. Criativity, surprise,
originality, movement, is essencial, but if one spoils the rhythm, the
chaos of disbelief will destroy the communication.
Rhythm marks the path between two structures, two orders, two poles.
Patterns in movement. It seems to me that this is in the essence of
communication.
I think, as well, that rhythm is all about velocity and pause, but I can't
state positively that it is so.
Can anyone give me a hand with all this?
Bruno Martins Soares
Lisbon, Portugal
--"Bruno Martins Soares" <bmartins.soares@mail.EUnet.pt>
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