Why is something as personal as our taste, so similar in general?

Remember our brain?

That’s why. It constantly scouts our environment for potential threats.

Base

You’re standing on the savanna. You see nothing but open land, your brain signals the ‘all clear’. No alarm, no tension!

Topping

Blue sky, some clouds and hills. Well, they are to be expected. It’s a nice addition to the landscape. It makes it more interesting. Less boring. Some tension – as there are more factors to keep an eye on – but a pleasant type of tension. It adds some ‘color’. Some welcome variation.

Spice

A lion. ‘Red alert!’ High level of tension. Not pleasant. Can this go away as quickly as possible? Please?

Unless we’re in a jeep with an armed guide, just the adventurous type or seeing it on a screen. Then it’s actually quite exciting!

Key 3

  • The base is the canvas, the background, the foundation.
  • The topping is what fits well with the base, what is to be expected, associated with the base.
  • The spice is the unexpected, the surprising, the thrill.

Popular

Now you know how to cook popular meals. Wanna cook less popular? Add more spice. Use a topping that isn’t associated with the base. These are also the recipes for modern art for example.

You see, the recipe is everywhere. In stories, it’s the main character (base), a challenge (topping) and a climax or plot twist (spice) for example. In fashion, it’s a blue jeans (base), white shirt (topping) and red shoes (spice) for example. The recipe is everywhere!!!

Improvisation?

I know. You want to improvise. Well, let’s get to it!

Previous chapter
Next chapter

How to improvise

chapter index