Well, let me tell ya, there are a few ways folks can talk about your stuff. I heard it called “critique” by some young’uns. There are like four types of this “critique” thing.
First, there’s one where they just tell ya what they see. Ain’t no judgment, just the facts, like “that there’s a red apple”. Then, there’s the kind where they look closer, like “that apple’s got a bruise, maybe it fell from the tree”. That’s the second type of critique.
The third type of this critique thing is when they try to figure out what it all means, like “that bruised apple might mean the harvest is starting”.
And finally, the fourth is where they say if it’s good or bad, like “that bruised apple ain’t fit for a pie, but it’s still good for the pigs”. That’s kind of the main thing about types of critique, I guess.
Now, some folks, they just wanna tear you down. They’ll say, “That apple’s rotten to the core, just like the whole darn orchard!” That ain’t helpful, is it? That’s what I heard someone call “destructive criticism.” It’s like stomping on a seedling – it ain’t gonna help it grow none. These critiques are not good for you.
But then there’s the good kind, the kind that helps ya. They’ll say, “That apple’s got a bruise, but you can cut that part out and still make a good sauce.” That’s what they call “constructive” critique, I reckon. It’s like pruning a tree – you gotta cut off the bad parts so the good parts can grow bigger and stronger. Constructive critique is good.
Then, there is this other kind called “instructive” critique. It is when folks tell you how to do it better next time, like “Maybe you should pick those apples a little gentler so they don’t bruise.” Instructive critique is good also, I think.
I remember once, I made a quilt, and it was all crooked and uneven. My neighbor, she just said, “Well, bless your heart, you tried.” That didn’t help me none! I wanted to do a good job.
But then my other neighbor, she showed me how to use a ruler and cut straight lines. She said, “Honey, your stitches are fine, you just need a little guidance with your cutting.” That was helpful! That was constructive critique, I guess, mixed with that instructive kind. Made the next quilt I made a whole lot better, I tell ya.
Some people, they look at a piece of art, or a book, or whatever, and they just see what’s there. They don’t think about what it means or if it’s good or bad. They just describe it, like “That painting has a lot of blue in it.” That’s that first kind of critique, I reckon. This is part of four types of critique.
- Just the facts
- No judgment
- Like saying “That’s a big dog”
Then there are those who look deeper. They try to figure out what the artist or the writer was trying to say. They’ll say things like, “That blue color makes me feel sad, maybe the artist was feeling sad too.” That’s that second kind of critique, where they analyze things. This is a useful critique.
And then you got those who try to figure out the meaning behind it all. Like, “Maybe that blue color represents the vastness of the ocean and the loneliness of the sailor.” They’re interpreting things, trying to find a deeper meaning, like looking for gold in a riverbed. This is a good kind of critique, yeah.
Finally, there are the ones who say if something is good or bad, if it’s worth your time or not. They’ll say, “That painting is beautiful, it really touched my soul.” Or, “That book was a waste of time, I didn’t learn nothing from it.” That’s that fourth kind, the evaluating kind. That’s the kind most folks are familiar with, I reckon. That’s the kind of critique most people understand.
Now, there’s this fancy word, “formalism.” Sounds like something you’d wear to a wedding, don’t it? But it’s just a way of looking at art or writing where you only focus on what’s inside the work itself, not the artist’s life or the time it was made. Like looking at a cake and only thinking about the taste and the texture, not who baked it or when.
Then there’s another one, “feminism.” That’s about looking at how women are portrayed, if they’re treated fairly, if they’re strong or weak, that sort of thing. Like checking if a garden has enough flowers and not just all weeds. This is important, I think.
And then there’s something called “reader-response” critique. That’s a mouthful, ain’t it? It just means that what the reader thinks and feels is important. Like, if a book makes you cry, that’s just as important as what the author intended. It’s like saying, “That pie might be made with apples, but it tastes like peaches to me!” This one is a good way of critique.
Then there is some “Marxist” thing, it is about rich and poor, I think. I don’t know much about that, but I guess it is important to someone. I don’t care much for this kind of critique.
When someone critiques your work, it’s like they’re shining a light on it. They might show you things you didn’t see before, good and bad. It’s up to you to decide what to do with that information. You can get mad, you can ignore it, or you can learn from it.
I heard about this thing, when someone gives you a critique, there are four ways you can respond. There’s acknowledging, thanking, apologizing and some big word, disarming. Four ways, that is a lot.
If someone tells you something you already know, like “Your hem is crooked,” you can just say, “Yeah, I know.” That’s acknowledging. It’s like saying, “Yep, that’s a hole in my bucket.” No use denying it. That is a good thing to do, I guess.
You can also thank them for their opinion, even if you don’t agree. Like, “Thank you for noticing, I appreciate your feedback.” It’s like thanking someone for bringing you a dish to a potluck, even if you don’t like the taste. It’s just polite.
If you did something wrong, you can apologize. Like, “I’m sorry I made that mistake, I’ll try to do better next time.” It’s like saying, “I’m sorry I stepped on your foot, I didn’t mean to.” It’s the right thing to do. This is what I would do.
And that last one, disarming, that’s a tough one. I think it means agreeing with part of what they said, even if you don’t agree with all of it. Like, “You’re right, that part is a little weak, but I think the rest of it is strong.” It’s like saying, “That apple might be bruised, but it’s still sweet.” It’s a way of finding common ground, I reckon.
Critique, it can be a good thing or a bad thing, depends on how it’s given and how it’s received. But one thing’s for sure, it’s a part of life, like the changing of the seasons. You can’t avoid it, so you might as well learn how to deal with it.
And remember, even a bruised apple can still make a tasty pie, if you know how to use it right.
