Critics, Crocks and Waterfront Docks

For the sensitive artists who've put their hearts, their lungs and their so-uls into their work, critics are villains; villains who's job it is to destroy egos and ruin lives. There are, generally speaking, two reactions to bad criticism: first, you can stubbornly convince yourself that the critics have missed the point, you only write for the 'people' and you'd like to see the critics do better; and second, you could ruffle your duck feathers and let their words roll off you into the shimmering lake and say: "I enjoyed writing it, and that's all that matters. My goal in releasing this was to see if I could make other people happy, too, and perhaps make a few dollars on the side."

Of course when you get a good response from the critics you're overjoyed; they haven't missed the point then. The only reason one has to resent the critics is because they've said something critical; as we know, most artists really can't handle criticism. But all critics are are people with jobs doing a service, and that service is essential.

We need public response to art. If there was no criticism, art would surely decline. It would spiral downward into self-indulgence with no discerning eye to ground it. Even when artists claim not to listen to the critics, you know they're just being spiteful over a bad review. The truth is everyone does; everyone secretly wants praise.

Then there's the public service that comes from criticism: it guides people as to which works they should experience; after all, you can never know everything; you really do need someone to help refine the pile a bit. Imagine stumbling into all those thousands of books and films and albums completely blind. Even after a lifetime dedicated towards art you'd still miss out on something.

Art without criticism just wouldn't work; they need each other to thrive. There's no point criticising the critic. They make you and they break you; respect them.

The latter section of the first paragraph is taken from a comment I wrote in "The Death Of All And Everthing".