Criticism

[Claire Zhang]

So often criticism terrifies us, and we shy away from it, avoiding it as much as we possibly can. We avoid things we are not skilled in to avoid the harsh derision and criticism that will inevitably come, and even with things that we feel we are skilled at - we feel deeply wounded when someone comes along and criticizes, as if they have attacked your very heart and soul.

But this attitude will never help one change. We need criticism sometimes; we need to have our work ripped to shreds, with harsh and mean and fiery words that seem to stab right through us, because that is the only way we can truly improve. Obviously, this is highly painful, especially to the more sensitive who see their work as a piece of their heart and soul. But we cannot simply avoid and run away from it. In the end, we must understand that it's going to help us improve and make us truly better. Criticism is simply a necessary evil, and the more mean, the more insensitive, the more caustic and blunt, the more patronizing - the better. It humbles us and reminds us that we indeed have so much more to learn. A condescending and patronizing tone of the criticizer might make us feel inferior and rather idiotic, and enrage us to no end, because we are egotistical. We think we know better than everyone; we think we're the best; we think we know what we're doing, and who is this person to come along and try to tell us how we should do it? But we must always remember that other people in this world indeed know so much more than we do about what works and what doesn't, and as passive, unbiased observers who speak their opinion and truth, they give us the best advice we could possibly ever demand - as condescending as it may sound. It is humbling, grounding, and we ought to appreciate the time they take to evaluate and think critically about our work. It takes much thought and care to do so, and we must be grateful.

It's stupid to display your work to the world and expect only praise and flattery. The person who displays work like this seeks not to improve their work, but to brag and show off, and someone who only wants this truly doesn't enjoy their work anyway. This is why I hate when random people post poetry or short stories to Facebook, display it on their newsfeed, and tag their closest friends. By doing so, they implicitly demand obligatory praise and flattery, and know that is exactly what they will receive (except by a few pompous jerks, but who really likes them anyway?) I take great pains to ensure the people who read my work are either strangers or read so voluntarily, finding it themselves, so that they have no reason to give me empty praise. If I am to be praised, I wish it to be genuine.

Being spoon fed and demanding buttery sunshine and sweet nice comments and easygoing, light criticism tainted with airy compliments is never going to make anyone better. We've got to learn to simply suck it up and take what others dish. This is part of the job of any performer, be it a writer, a dancer, or a singer. Criticism comes, it turns our insides upside down, burns away our ego cruelly, and yet, should we take the time to look past our pains and immature hate and negative feelings, we can find that we have a lot to learn from what the criticizers say.