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Maybe I’m wrong or I just wander to the wrong sites. Still, it feels like people are much more critical of art than they were even a few years ago. Things are torn apart and insulted before they’re fully released. People go hunting for reasons to hate something instead of giving stuff a chance. I know there are things a person won’t touch at all without a second thought, but it feels like most people have a longer list of ‘no’ than ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’. I get the feeling that this is an effect of social media where you get more attention for hating stuff. Makes it a lot harder to create things too because new ideas and risky attempts are what this mentality destroys rather easily. Well, you can get my opinion on this, so let’s open the floor.
Actually, I want to add that this is about constructive criticism, which can help an artist. I rarely see that. Usually, I see plain insults and vitriol.
- Do you think people are becoming more critical today?
- How can an unknown artist survive this?
- Do you think this is having a negative effect on the artistic world and how?
Legends of Windemere 
In answer to these questions, Charles:
1. Yes, and I think it is because we are all Covid grumpy.
2. Work on growing a thick skin! Not sure where you can find the nutritional additives for that!
3. Not sure – it’s never stopped me! Hard to tell because we don’t know what we’re missing!
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1. I kind of saw this going on before Covid, so I don’t know how much of a factor that is. For example, I’ve seen a certain fandom attack other works for years. It’s like anything that garners attention draws them in to destroy out of fear of it replacing their precious franchise.
2. I’ve come to realize that the thick skin thing doesn’t really work. Authors need to be sensitive when writing, which thick skin can prevent. That’s how many of us can put the emotions into our work. People are also attacking something that came from the heart, so you’d have to stop caring about it to really get thick skin.
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People are much more critical in general these days, and it’s having a negative effect on just about everything. How to deal with it is different for each person, so all you can do is find what works for you to help you cope with it, and try not to get involved in all the negativity and criticism yourself. Then just don’t let those sparks of creativity and hope die. In the meantime, keep on looking for those few people who will appreciate what you bring to your chosen artform.
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Hard, if not impossible, to avoid the negativity though. I noticed that nearly every conversation about an artistic endeavor results in a ‘fight’. You always get one person joining in that just wants to attack things. This used to be only on social media, but I’m seeing it happen in real life too. Another reason I began wondering about the topic.
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Next to impossible to avoid the negativity, but possible to avoid getting involved in it. Just because someone starts making critical or negative comments doesn’t mean you have to respond to or pay attention to them. The situations you encounter aren’t always in your control, but your reactions to them are (even if your feelings about them are another story, and not so easily controlled).
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Maybe it’s just my experience then. The negative people tend to be the loudest and get worse when ignored. Somebody inevitably tries to get them to stop, which changes the atmosphere. This is why I think many people act this way solely for the attention you get from fighting.
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I’d definitely have to agree on the part about many of them acting that way for attention.
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I’m with Tori on this, ignore them, let them rant like a Trump rally, they’ll eventually either have enough rope to hang themselves or get bored and go annoy someone else 🤔
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Hope so. I’ve seen far too many conversations about art get destroyed. Getting any feedback becomes impossible even from those defending it.
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I think people are becoming more critical today and I don’t think it is just in the arts. I think the whole country has become critical of each other for almost everything.
An unknown artist needs to continue trying to break through and ignore the bullshit.
The artistic world is taking the same hits, as everyone else. People are giving up their jobs and simply opting to live each day. I don’t know how they do that but I assume they have some resources somewhere. I think there is a lot of artists who have just given up and are no longer interested in pursuing that avenue.
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People are certainly angry and social media allows them to weigh in on whatever has them upset. Definitely comes with a major downside since some people don’t think before they post.
I think many people are leaving jobs that aren’t paying enough to survive and come with a lot of mental abuse. I’ve read on some forums where people do it and quickly get another, better job. This isn’t in the arts though.
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I was always taught that if I had nothing nice to say about anything, better to say nothing at all…
Anyway, being constructive is far more useful…
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True. Wish is was always constructive. That kind of criticism is hard to find these days.
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Such a shame too…
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Reblogged this on anitadawesauthor.com.
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Thanks for sharing.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing.
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With a great pleasure, Charles! Thanks for mentioning this very important topic. xx Michael
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Because I could have forgotten, let me wish you a Happy New Year, Charles! 😉 This a are good questions. Its true, but i honestly can not give an answer. Maybe this virus thing had pushed people back to the essentials, and for art per se one need to have a wider open mind, and also need time to think more about. Time will show. Best wishes, Michael
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Happy New Year! I’m wondering how much Covid factors into this. Though I remember seeing hyper-criticism prior to it too. I think a big part comes from the rise of super fandoms. It’s almost like watching fans of sports teams. It’s like more effort is put into tearing the ‘opposition’ down than cheering for your favorites. Which makes no sense with art because it’s subjective.
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Thank you as well, Charles! Yes, i think you are right with this. There has changed so much, during the last decade, and the decisions are very hurtful, even though they will be subjective. xx Michael.
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Definitely. Social media made it easier too. At least I think so.
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Yes, people are more critical. We tend to reflect those around us over time. The Internet has changed this social structure. With no fear of a punch in the nose, people have gotten much more callous toward others. I think an unknown can survive by ignoring most of it. Thriving is another story, because it involves throwing gobs of money at our projects. I think the artistic world is becoming more blended to a degree. In other words there is a sameness to many projects. We try not to offend, observe things that are successful, then try to replicate it in our own way.
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Good point on the blending. Does feel like most big, popular stories stem from the same sources or ideas.
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I love superhero movies, but there is a similarity. They get around it with character differences. Batman isn’t the same as Rocket Raccoon. I see it in all the speculative genres, but I kind of don’t venture far from those.
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Superhero movies are the worst right now. Especially those within the same universe. They work off the same story formula since it’s what worked before. I’m hoping for some that are more unique in the future.
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Me, too.
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