Critique is Character Building

Have you ever imagined Calvin going to post-secondary school? You know the Calvin I’m talking about, a much-loved cartoon series of a little boy and his tiger. There are a few of us out there experiencing our grown children heading into post-secondary education. The mixed emotions of knowing that they are ready but knowing the challenges we have experienced — some more concerning that others! I can hear myself saying, as Calvin’s dad did, “critique” is character building.

My daughter, 20 and my niece 19 are both entering post-secondary education in the Arts, fine arts and design to be specific. I’m proud of them, not only because it is my line of work and study, but mostly because they are very talented. I know this talent will grow and deepen, and it will benefit the lives of those they connect with.

I see in them things I understand because of myself being an artist, but also something greater. The greater is more geared to a lack of oppression. The freedom women are seeking and that artists are instruments in giving voice to social change. They are also more willing to see their privilege, though the layers of oppression do not run very deep. Their willingness to be aware is unlike something I knew at their age.

Despite privilege, there will come a challenge. The fear of the critique challenge that often smacks a first-year high achieving student in the face and reveals the shadow of uncertainty and self-worth to the rest of us. They will wonder if the praise received their entire life was all a lie, because a professor commented on their work, “I can’t even tell what that is.” True story. Then there is the dark side of competition that haunts us to become better, but not more honest and invested in our own development. These are skills learned or not learned in the Arts and in life. As an artist the two are inseparable — artist is a definition of our being. Critique is hard.

This is the test; unlike any others you will take and do well at. A test of your ability to dig deeper and find where the critique meets your willingness to learn and the hedge of your own sense of self. Humility meets dignity. In the end you will hopefully find the joy of not giving a crap (usually acknowledged after too much coffee at 3am), but also the experience of it all being worth it.