“Your problem is that you bring the critical factor down, before you have allowed the lyric to make its statement.”
Friedrich von Schiller
I think these words were written to a young poet experiencing writer's block. I think they are very wise words and I love the beauty with which he describes bringing forth the lyrical - allowing the beautiful magic to appear.
I have a bunch of one liners (properly described as 'rules of engagement) that I post on the wall when I am teaching and one of them is similar to this. I suggest that folk:
"Create first. Critique second. They are different things".
We so often bring forth the critic and critique the work before we have even given it a chance to become something. Sometimes students beat themselves up as they begin, as they get to the middle and then again at the end. Surely this takes away the joy of making and creating and exploring and wondering what if?
Understanding that they are two different things, and getting the sequence right is pretty important I think. And I propose that Schiller said it rather more beautifully than most!
Rules of engagement on a whiteboard...
Friedrich von Schiller
I think these words were written to a young poet experiencing writer's block. I think they are very wise words and I love the beauty with which he describes bringing forth the lyrical - allowing the beautiful magic to appear.
I have a bunch of one liners (properly described as 'rules of engagement) that I post on the wall when I am teaching and one of them is similar to this. I suggest that folk:
"Create first. Critique second. They are different things".
We so often bring forth the critic and critique the work before we have even given it a chance to become something. Sometimes students beat themselves up as they begin, as they get to the middle and then again at the end. Surely this takes away the joy of making and creating and exploring and wondering what if?
Understanding that they are two different things, and getting the sequence right is pretty important I think. And I propose that Schiller said it rather more beautifully than most!
Rules of engagement on a whiteboard...
the artist's life is always a balancing act that does seem to get easier with practice!
ReplyDeleteI think we get wiser don't we Mo? Or at least I hope so!
Delete‘Create first. Critique second.’ How pithily true that is - but how hard to do. I know I’m just too ready to get the two things the wrong way round!
ReplyDeleteIt was a real light bulb moment for me when I realised there was a sequence to this! Thanks Margaret/Charlton.
DeleteThanks, for this - it really hits the spot for me, at this point in time!
ReplyDeleteI hope it lets you create with critiquing straight away Margaret! Go well.
Delete