A Lack of Progressive Criticism...
I have a tendency to (knowingly) waste time surfing the internet. At times, this is all consuming and I don't pay a lot of attention to the people around me... though when Erin is present, I am more present with what I am meant to be doing... or just being aware of her. However, while surfing the internet, following personal interests, I've discovered that there are a lot of websites out there that showcase people who... well... really don't need to be showcased.
For example, earlier today I came across a site where some individual put together miniature landscapes with people (both men and women in each) suffering from some odd, and often other-worldly, malady. I've never been a fan of miniatures, and these, I've got to tell you, didn't really cause me to jump out of my seat and think, in any way, "This guy has talent." Rather, I just wondered what it was he was trying to accomplish and I moved on to another website.
What prompts this post, though, isn't miniatures, but rather PhotoShop armchair artists. Basically, there are large groups of people, complete with a lot of websites to support them, that will throw together what they call art in Photoshop and then post it online. In some cases, this is to receive feedback so that the wanna-be artist can improve his or her work; however, most of the time as you click through these sites, what you come up with is someone who wants to be recognized for their individual genius and not criticized. In short they are saying, "Look at me, look at me," and, "I achieve without trying."
Sure, in many cases I am disparaging people who have a great deal of talent and who work hard to improve themselves and want a forum where people can come and see their work. Most individual webpages, mine included, are not popular enough that publishing my work to the page will generate sufficient traffic and responses and, as a result, having a webpage to showcase work is okay; but you also need a community to show it too.
So, communities are born and people share their creations, writing, art, poetry, movies, and etc. with the world. People flock to these communities to share their work. They want feedback, but they don't want criticism. What is asked for, most frequently, and what is often a part of the ToS (Terms of Service) for most of these websites is to be polite and only say nice things about someone else's work. In short, these sites are saying, "We want you to post here and we don't want any chance for you to improve."
Now, that is a little harsh on my part. Though, in my defense, I believe that criticism is necessary for someone to improve. If I don't like something, but cannot express why I don't like it - me saying, "I don't like it," is not constructive in any way. However, it is allowable for me to comment, like that, on someone else's website.
Whereas, if I don't like something and I have a reason behind it:
Your artwork does not posses any skill while your selection of colors clash in such a way as to draw the observer, your audience, out of the artwork and away from what you are trying to accomplish... what are you trying to accomplish here?....
In this case, I would be considered a hostile reviewer and would, most likely, be asked to stop and move on to another website.
Because the online communities, at large, are so homogenized and simple in approach, focusing more on the broad community than a smaller group trying to develop and grow into better writers, artists, poets, and etc., the critical approach to review that is necessary for someone to improve gets lost in the ToS. The outcome, then, is not a movement toward improvement, but rather a movement toward popularity. The outcome is a static function of growth (e.g. no growth) rather than allowing the community, which is what Open Source and the Internet are supposed to do, help you improve.
In short, the motto of the internet is, frequently:
Many eyes improve quality
However, in this case, many eyes only spout popularity and do not allow for improvement or quality.
Often, what you will find is that people who want to improve will find people from outside the larger internet community that will assist and critique and criticize, which allows for the receptive person to grow in the desired skillset. At which point, these same individuals might post, request positive (only) feedback, and redirect people to galleries and individual websites where more (and better) work is showcased... as well as contact information and bio's.
Truth told, I would rather showcase my work in an environment I am in control of and can determine the kinds of feedback I get (outside of solicited feedback from Erin, parents, friends, and others) than to trust in the community of feedback much of the internet is meant to offer.
The internet is a good tool when used properly, but as a medium for improving skills, talents, and abilities, or to work toward set goals; the internet becomes a medium wherein people are easily lost and where those same skills, talents, and abilities atrophy and fade because of a lack of progressive criticism.
John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West
Real Heroes Fly