Is receiving criticism necessarily a bad thing? How has it affected you as an artist?
The internet and social media have made it possible for almost anyone to express their opinions on anything with virtually no restrictions. This is, of course, a neutral byproduct of the fact that technology has made communication so much faster, easier, and more convenient. This has allowed important but little known truths to come to light and potentially inspire change. However, when this ability falls into the hands of the less kind, a harsher environment is created.
Through the pandemic, I have had several opportunities to speak and present to younger creators. These people mainly consist of college students or even younger. While so many questions arise about the technical and creative aspects of photography, there is one question that I always seem to find the answer to on my own. Young photographers seem to be quite worried about how they can thrive in an environment of harsh criticism and that’s why they asked about my personal experience.
Negative comments and social media
Social media is not always a pleasant place. If you don’t accept that then you haven’t reached far enough with the other person. However, it may be reasonable to think that people are often biased into thinking that the Internet is dominated by negativity simply because we pay more attention to negative posts, comments, and messages. and hurtful and tend to overlook the positive. People also seem to be forced to speak up when they feel the need to point out something bad or wrong, and less so when they see things right and in order. Perhaps social media is a harsh environment because most people with negative observations speak up and people, in general, barely make an affirmation.
How does criticism affect you?
The way we handle criticism varies from person to person. It makes sense to view criticism as something you would normally want to avoid because they simply point to imperfections in our work. However, a person’s reaction to criticism (at least in a really constructive way) will reflect how they see their work and how they see themselves as artists. As an artist, it’s important to be familiar with criticism and be able to identify which criticism is valid and constructive, and to be able to weed out insults and empty comments. . To thrive as a creative work, it is necessary to develop a certain degree of resilience to such feedback, but being affected by criticism at a healthy level is completely normal thing.
It’s also important to know that people make and express criticism of other people’s work for a variety of reasons. There are people who are well-intentioned who give unbiased feedback for the purpose of helping the person improve their skills or make a valid claim. There are those who simply react without giving any input on the work in question, and there are those who speak up and offer criticism because they see it as a way to raise your ego. It is important to evaluate the validity of statements before we allow criticism to influence us.
How you respond to criticism in the public eye can also affect your own image and brand as an artist or simply as a professional. Many respected photographers and other visual artists remain respected amid constant criticism simply because of how well they handle them. Personally, the ability to filter and analyze criticism can help someone not only float among themselves, but use it to improve themselves and their work the same way criticism should. .
Verifying the Nature of Criticism
An important step in dealing with criticism is to verify its true nature. You just want to know and determine if the point is valid before you let it affect you and consider what it suggests. There are several important questions you need to answer to be able to determine this. The first is if there is indeed substance in the comment. Comments are meant to express opinions or just dislike? Is it talking about the work instead, or is it targeting people? Is there a real intention to provide meaningful insights? Or the one who pointed out the insult?
Second, you want to determine if the observations are true. Is observation something anyone can do? If not, is the person trustworthy enough to make that comment? If it is true, does it apply to what you intend to create? It’s important to note that while a person is entitled to their opinion on your work, you must determine if the reasoning behind them is due to actual error or simply a lack of conformity. match your style and their personal taste. After all of this, you should be able to determine in general whether the criticism is right or wrong.
If the person is wrong or the comment is invalid, that’s always a point to consider in the future and now, it’s an indirect affirmation of whatever you’re doing with your art. If you are comfortable with your personal style and taste, if your work is a reliable translation of your vision as an artist, and if your work does not harm or offend anyone else, there is no need to defend or even just explain it.
On the other hand, if the observations are valid, there is too much to take from them. Constructive criticism should never be considered negative. Real constructive criticism brings a lot of insight to consider, and it can help you identify weaknesses in what you do. Being able to do so gives you a good starting point for improving on these identified elements, and while it can be a little daunting, it is worth offering constructive criticism. Construction can be a wonderful thing, especially when it comes from reliable sources.
Give criticism
When it comes to expressing one’s opinions and offering criticism, there is virtually unlimited freedom in doing so. However, caution in this regard can go a long way in creating a more pleasant atmosphere for photographers and creatives of all skill and experience levels. We must avoid making criticisms solely intended to offend and demeanour, we must avoid merely imposing our personal preferences for aesthetics and methods on the work of others, and finally, We must offer criticism with the means and intention of encouraging improvement and even inspiring a fellow artist who may have the same difficulties you are currently experiencing or have experienced in the past. past.
