On Critiquing - 5 simple questions

Critiquing:

Moving from Criticism to Critical and Creative Thinking

(The Critical Response Tool - not just a "Raptor Face" reaction)

Adapted from a presentation given by Barbra Cox (from the Perpich Center for Arts Education), I thought this was a really great way of looking at work.  Most of the time when we think of “Critiquing a work of art” – critical comments and lots of writing come to mind, which are both left brain pursuits – not usually what we associate with the heavily right brain dominated world of the visual artist.  Yet, effective criticism – comments, insights, understanding etc. comes from both hemispheres of the brain. 

In class I ask that all students evaluate work by telling the person:

A)   What’s good about their work?

B)    What’s weak about it?  (What needs work)

C)     Where can the artist go from there – suggestions?

From experience I have seen this to be the most effective in-class model, but for the purpose and strategy of expanding our brain’s visual vocabulary I would try this in your own practice. '

BUT WAIT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  THERE's MORE!!!!!!

5 simple questions to find the truth:

1.  What do you see?

2.  What does it remind you of?

3.  How does it make you feel?

4.  Questions you have?

5.  Conclusion.

                                   

1. What do you see?  (Visual description of formal elements only)  (Left Brain)

2.  What does it remind you of?  (Right Brain)

3. What feelings – if any does it raise?  (Right Brain)

4. What questions does it raise?  (Left Brain)

5.  What can you synthesize from this as far as what the content is?  (Right and Left)

Image taken from:

http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/modern_art/bird_in_space_constantin_brancusi/objectview.aspx?collID=21&OID=210006973

Bird in Space, 1923
Constantine Brancusi (French, born Romania, 1876–1957)
Marble

 

1. What do you see?  (Visual description of formal elements only)  (Left Brain)

2.  What does it remind you of?  (Right Brain)

3. What feelings – if any does it raise?  (Right Brain)

4. What questions does it raise?  (Left Brain)

5.  What can you synthesize from this as far as what the content is?  (Right and Left)

Image taken from:  http://www.thebody.com/visualaids/web_gallery/2002/baysa/05.html

Untitled (portrait of Ross in LA), 1991
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
175 lbs Fruit Flasher Candy, size variable

 









"On the occasion of Marilyn Monroe’s suicide in August 1962, Warhol used this image for his screenprinting. It was a publicity shot by Gene Korman for the film Niagara, made in 1953. " http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/marilyns.html