The Nature of Criticisms

Criticism of any artistic creation is a very touchy subject. It involves picking at what amounts to someone’s child, exposing its ugliness and its flaws for all the world to see. This, of course, causes the artist, the creator, to become somewhat discouraged. It can also cause the critic to become somewhat enlightened, because either they enjoy pointing out what’s wrong in things, or because they like to make people feel like that.

But let’s take a step back. Artists, just because a critic says your work is bad doesn’t mean that it actually is. Sometimes critics provide useful points that can actually help you tweak your craft into something better. Critics, your job is not to shred artists without reason. Your job is to highlight the flaws in their creations, and to help them find ways to eliminate those flaws.

I can hear cries of blasphemy from the critics community and resentful whimpers from the artists community. So, let me expand my points.

Artists, we know that you have created fine works of art, be they paintings, sculptures, or stories. We know that you have undoubtedly spent countless hours pouring blood, sweat, and tears into making them. But this doesn’t mean that you get to lash out violently at any perceived attacks on those works.

Yes, granted, some of the criticisms you receive are valid attacks. But, some of them, if you look closely enough, are actually trying to be helpful. They offer advice, rather than simply insults, and often try to suggest ways in which to make your work better. And, you should want to make your work better, because, let’s face it, no work is perfect the first time. There is always a way you can make it better. And you should be grateful for that help. After all, if you walked out in public with a bad color scheme of clothes, wouldn’t you have appreciated it if someone had told you just how bad you looked beforehand? Same basic concept.

Critics, we know that you have some credentials. After all, you wouldn’t be respected by other critics if you didn’t have any. But just because you are respected in your own community doesn’t mean you get to ruthlessly shred artists for no reason other than self satisfaction.

Yes, some of the work you look over is downright horrible. That point will not be disputed. And we thank you for saving us from some awful artistic creations. But your entire job should not simply be about dispensing bile. Offer up some advice. If you think that the ocean in the painting should be just a lighter shade of blue, say so. Don’t just say it looks wretched, give some advice to fix it. 

Both sides of this need to be aware of how their opposite number work. If we can foster a bit of agreement between critics and artists, then both will come out on top for the betterment of all.