Read on TwitterI used this video as a reference because I haven’t been in an art studio class in a While, so I encourage watching it! It’s very good! https://twitter.com/thinking_toes/status/1287599099685023747
Now, I’m using my experience from art critiques every semester for five years as a base, but i think this thread can be used for art, fic, and as a general guideline on how to react to Media. (which is to say they are my guidelines, you don't have to do anything i guess lol)
1- During art critiques you know/ you’re there to have your art scrutinized. When you post a fic, it is there for people to read, but not everyone might be open to criticism. Lots of authors ask for critique on their notes, though, some even encourage it.+
Consider first if the person you’re approaching has asked for/ agreed to listen to your criticism. If they don’t want advice they won't listen no matter how well thought out your critique is, or how correct you might be.
Critique can be an exercise in empathy. If you are criticizing a piece there must be a reason; you have So Many Feelings, whether positive or negative, and either way it hit an emotional point in you that you felt the need to say something.
2- Take a minute, or two, or more. Don't comment, or tweet. Let your feelings settle and allow yourself to sort through your feelings. Why are you responding this way? Keep that tweet in your drafts and come back to it at the end of the day- do you feel the same way?
3-When i think about the best comments and critiques for art I've made i think of this basic structure:
I like/didn't like [this specific thing] because [the ways in which it makes the art better/ the problems it makes for the art]+
I like/didn't like [this specific thing] because [the ways in which it makes the art better/ the problems it makes for the art]+
It looks very dry, but when you’re trying to improve on a craft, to see specific things you do well can help you find things about your work you didn't know you’re good at (so encouraging!) or if its something you've been working on and you get praise? It feels so redeeming!
It’s also very helpful to see the things you are doing which are bad habits, areas to improve and focus on, or aspects you might have not noticed if no one pointed it out (but that now you can't unsee and Must Fix It). It is why critique is Helpful.
Now, maybe you have nothing positive to say. Go back to number2. Are u sure? because if you still have so many thoughts/feelings the work might have hit an emotional point in you. Exercise in empathy, what is it that you share with the artist that made you react to the work?
4- I have training and language to talk about media critique, but most people don't. When critiquing, i try to talk about form then content. This is technical language to say talk about how it's made, the context, the medium even, them about the content itself.
e.g. This meme:
Form: Its made mostly with lines, not very steady. probably quickly made on a phone. Decided to divide it into two panels to create a zooming effect.
Content: the simple design allows you to focus on the idea, the exaggerated reaction of crying.
Form: Its made mostly with lines, not very steady. probably quickly made on a phone. Decided to divide it into two panels to create a zooming effect.
Content: the simple design allows you to focus on the idea, the exaggerated reaction of crying.
A pompous example of a full critique of the meme:
There's many crying memes, but i enjoy the story-telling aspect of this one brought by the panels. The simple lines, wobbly and unfinished make it funnier and the set up is ripe for adapting into more meme situations.
There's many crying memes, but i enjoy the story-telling aspect of this one brought by the panels. The simple lines, wobbly and unfinished make it funnier and the set up is ripe for adapting into more meme situations.
I could do a part 2 for technical language, you know, just give away the knowledge i got a degree for.
LOL ok that is it for this thread. thanks for reading if you made it!
LOL ok that is it for this thread. thanks for reading if you made it!
