Please discuss how you feel about giving and receiving critique. Is there something that folks can do to make receiving it easier for you? How does it feel to give criticism? What’s the worst, least helpful criticism you’ve ever received and why? What’s the best? 

I hope this response doesn’t sound canned, but I am actually pretty comfortable with giving and receiving critique. I took art and writing classes throughout high school and as an undergrad (English major, Studio Art minor), so I have some experience with constructive criticism. Our assigned reading has some good advice about this, as well. When offering feedback to my classmates and coworkers, I always try to keep my tone light and positive. I often frame my critique in the form of clarifying questions. I do this for a few reasons: one, to make sure I understand what the other person is trying to say with their work; and two, I reason that if the other person can explain their process to me so that I can understand it, then that person will also come to a clearer understanding of the problem. I am also fond of the “compliment sandwich” method, whereby I start and end my critique with positive feedback. The point is to provide the right support to the recipient of the critique so that they can improve their work, or reinforce its strength. Basically, I try to give criticism in the same way I would like to receive it.

Speaking of receiving criticism, I generally respond well to constructive, specific feedback rather than a nebulous, “I don’t know about this…”. I get annoyed if I start to pick up a vibe that people are holding back because they don’t want to hurt my feelings. Spit it out, and don’t condescend or patronize. I’d rather receive well-founded critique that is put in a less-than-graceful way if it brings to light something I never considered. I also appreciate when folks point out where my work succeeds along with where it could be improved. I try to receive criticism in the same way that I give it: with an open mind and a positive attitude. Even if I disagree with someone else’s ideas, I can still respect their opinion.

The worst criticism I ever received (or at least the only one I can remember being offended by) was given by an English professor in college. I wrote a literary analysis about a Renaissance poem (“The Vine” by Robert Herrick) from a feminist perspective, and not only did I get a C+ on the paper, but this dude wrote in bold letters, “Oh, lighten up!” I was crushed. In retrospect, I’m sure I took myself way too seriously and I’m sure the paper had its flaws (I wasn’t always a model student back then), but that comment just felt so dismissive, especially coming from a male teacher. All’s well that end’s well, though, because a few years later I recited some of my own poetry at a student/faculty reading and the same critical professor very kindly praised my work! 

Some of the best feedback I can remember receiving came from my high school art teacher. She was always very supportive of her students, even snarky little shits like Yours Truly. During my junior year, the class was assigned to sculpt a self-portrait bust, and me being me, I made mine into a zombified corpse. I sculpted my bust with stringy hair, pale and fetid flesh, bloodshot eyes, and, in a stroke of genius, gouged out one of the eyeballs, laying it on the figure’s cheek still connected to the optic nerve. As I soon discovered, an eyeball-shaped sphere of clay is much heavier than an actual eyeball, so I ended up removing it from the socket entirely. The effect was still pretty satisfactory. After painting my work of art, I wasn’t sure how to deal with the bloody eye socket and face drips. Instead of censuring me, which at an all-girl Catholic school she may well have been within her rights to do, my awesome teacher suggested I go over the blood with clear nail polish to make it look glossy and fresh! I did exactly as she suggested and the sculpture was featured in our school art show that year in all its gruesome glory!