Difference of Opinion; August 7 2023

I think the phrase ‘everyone’s a critic’ needs to be examined.

I’ve been talking lately to other creatives about demoralizing feedback, and specifically trying to make them understand that critique – real critique – is a discussion rather than a condemnation. But because everyone and their mother now labours under the impression that their opinions = critique (and because authors/artists are accessible through social media), there’s a dangerous assumption that people make that you have to consider all criticisms in order to make a work that’s ‘good’.

Analysing literature and art is literally a job. It takes educating, it takes time. People in the field devote their busy brains to pick content apart, learn what may have been on the creator’s mind when they said one thing or added something to the background of their painting. There’s subconscious intent in everything we make. Art is shaped by people; people are shaped by their experiences, their desires. Analysts try to determine what the intentions were, judge how well they were executed, compare that to the impact… And, obviously, they need to know enough about technique to say whether or not the artist has consistency and skill in their style.

That’s a lot of criteria to be a valid critic! And that’s for a reason!

The layman has opinions, not critiques. They are approaching their experience, as a consumer, from the position of an amateur. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with deciding you didn’t like the book or artwork or song! But these people have got to wrap their heads around the idea that contacting the author (tagging them in their reviews, messaging them directly, etc) is not appropriate. That their opinion is literally meaningless if they’re not opening the door to a productive discussion, and that both parties have to be amenable to that discussion in the first place.

This is why experienced authors/artists don’t tend to seek out reviews. It can severely damage our mental health to take in the vitriol and disdain; automatically, we try to figure out how we can ‘fix’ it, when the truth is, there are a lot of cases in which it doesn’t need to be ‘fixed’. Offensive and hurtful content is one thing, but ‘I don’t like this because it’s ugly/I don’t like this because it’s badly written’ is subjective, and if it’s already on the shelves or in the museum, then what are you trying to accomplish by telling the creator that?

I’ve talked before about critique and beta reading when it comes, specifically, to writing. When someone asks for critique in that stage of creation, they’re inviting a dialogue. That’s when opinions have the potential to evolve into real criticism. Still, both sides need to acknowledge that there are some things that simply won’t appeal to the consumer. That doesn’t make the work bad, it just means that person wasn’t your target audience.

Long story short, don’t tag content creators in your opinion pieces you’ve slapped onto social media. You’re asking them to see it, when you do that. You want them to see it. And you’ll accomplish nothing, be your opinion praise or hating, because that creator can’t open that door without risking their mental health and, in some cases, their career.

Boundaries, y’all. Boundaries.

Rant aside, I’d like to remind you all again that I have a GoFundMe that’s lost all traction, and I really need your help to get the ball rolling again. Please help me fund my top surgery, and thanks to everyone who’s already shared and/or donated!