Here's what has happened to me several times in the past month or so: I publish or present something, and get a bi-polar (or even tri-polar) reaction from the audience. One guy enthusiastically says a particular work is very scholarly... then another puts even more enthusiasm into his criticisms of how unscholarly it is. Are either of them right?
Or how about this: a single article is alternatively described, with great conviction by all parties involved, as hilarious, chilling, or thought-provoking by some people (a confusing enough range of reactions), then it gets a tepid response by some others, and elicits a strong negative reaction from a third group, who say it's not creative enough, not saying anything new, not clear, excessively cynical, etc.
How can one piece of work be a comic masterpiece and a boring waste of time... all at once? How can it be the height of creativity and the depth of unoriginality, or an encouraging bit of cynicism? OK guys, am I on candid camera? Is someone just messing with my head here?
Of course, I prefer hearing people say they like my stuff, but the truth is I really like hearing from critics too. In fact, my favorite bit of "fan mail" contained the line "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves." I hung that letter on my office wall for months.
But I have to admit I'm not quite sure what to make of a situation where I paint a wall red and one person loves how blue it is... while another hates it for being green. Argh!
Like I said, I am beginning to understand now why some people never read their reviews... and I am reminded of something the great American philosopher John Travolta once said, "I wasn't that good, and I'm not that bad..."
6 comments:
Dan: methinks that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder',,,, the reaction is all in the interpretation of reality.... not reality.... love ya, Dad
Two points for Dad. >wink<
Variety is the spice of life, right?
I agree with your dad. Perception is reality and everyone perceives the same thing differently. Like John Boyd's OODA of oreintation - cultural traditions, genetic heritage, previous experinces, etc. You also have wisdom of crowds working in a group setting.
Many people (based on sales figures) love Coca-Cola. I think the stuff tastes like soapy water and would have a very hard time choking down a glass. Different strokes.
That is the same reaction to my art LOL! and it's strange isn't it. I guess NO reaction would be the worst.
@Jafa - Agreed! I hate it when something I write doesn't generate even a single written response. I'll take "you guys should be ashamed of yourselves" over silence any day!
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