"It is extremely arrogant and very foolish to think that you can ever outwit your audience"

Twyla Tharp’s assertion that attempting to outwit one’s audience is both arrogant and foolish reveals a profound understanding of the relationship between artist and viewer. The creative process, whether in dance, literature, film, or any other discipline, thrives on the intricate connection between those who create and those who observe, read, listen, or participate. Audiences bring their own intelligence, experience, sensitivities, and interpretive abilities to every encounter with a work of art. Presuming to be cleverer than them, to manipulate or deceive them purely to show off one’s ingenuity, risks underestimating their perceptiveness and undercutting the authentic communication that is the heart of artistic expression.

True artistry often emerges from respect for the audience’s intelligence. Creativity becomes a dialogue, not a monologue delivered from an elevated platform. Trying to trick an audience ignores their role in constructing meaning and overlooks the subtle ways in which people perceive nuances, decode symbolism, and sense authenticity versus artifice. Audiences are, in a sense, creative collaborators. They complete the work in the act of reception, bringing their insights to bear and seeing possibilities that even the artist might not have imagined. The belief that one can “outwit” them implies not only a lack of humility but also a misunderstanding of how art and communication function.

Moreover, arrogance of this kind is self-defeating. When creators focus on dazzling or tricking their audiences, they often alienate them, potentially resulting in work that feels empty, self-indulgent, or condescending. The greatest works invite participation and trust the intelligence of their viewers or participants. Artists who respect their audience inspire deeper engagement and foster a bond founded on mutual regard rather than competition. In essence, humility and respect open doors to deeper expression and reception, making the relationship between artist and audience a source of richness and mutual growth.