Monday, April 23, 2012

Thoughts on Art and Criticism

I love the snippet I've included above. It is from Pixar's Ratatouille. It reminds me of the power that food has and that with a smell, a taste, and a touch, you can be transported to a time in your childhood when things were far less complicated. Below are thoughts on criticism and how we both give and receive.
“In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau’s, who is, in this critic’s opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau’s soon, hungry for more." — Anton Ego

29 comments:

  1. This is so much more true these days when everyone gets to be a critic online.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Giving then new a chance, especially when it doesn't come from the usual places, is where I think/hope we're headed. Traditional sources are so tied up in commerce and safe choices you feel like you've already been there don that. Here's to taking a chance.

    mood
    Moody Writing
    @mooderino
    The Funnily Enough

    ReplyDelete
  3. There's a saying. "Nobody ever put up a statue in honor of a critic."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cindy and I had the same thought.
    Critics are sometimes just negative people who are jealous that they can't do what someone else accomplished.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I appreciate the critics (readers) who post their reviews, but it's also easy to wonder if they realize the impact of a review and their words.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Some criticism is well-done and well-thought-out. Then you get the schmucks who just hurl up vague one-paragraph one-star reviews on Amazon. You know who I'm talking about.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was reading a review of someone's online article the other day, a bad one, and wondered what purpose it served other than for the critiquer to feel a moment of false superiority.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I loved that movie. My kids and I use to watch it all the time. I received a page long raving review for Rise From Darkness, but when I got to the bottom it was 2 1/2 stars. Sometimes I don't understand, but try to learn what I can.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That movie is a fav here. The kids love Ratatouille. I was impressed, as with many of the Pixar films, how much wit and wisdom are included for adult viewers as well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love that part of the movie. I got goosebumps just reading it here

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a fantastic movie with such a powerful message. My kids love that film too.

    I think critics do have issues with the NEW. Some are more open minded and can appreciate something that is more avant-garde.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Writing criticism is an art just like writing poetry or fiction. You can do it with grace and respect or you can do it with anger and hate. Either way, it says as much about the critic as the work being criticised.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love that movie too. The upside to negative criticism is that sometimes even the bad critics can help sell things. I've bought stuff off bad reviews because I liked the things the critic didn't like before.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Props for posting my favorite quote from my favorite Pixar film. In a small way, it inspired the next novel I'm writing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful! I loved that movie for it's great metaphor about life.

    "Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere."

    Such insightful words. I loved this!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fab post as always, Michael. I'm always wishing I could go back to my childhood when things were much less complicated. And magical. Great quote. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. My thinking is that we make the best discoveries if and when we keep an open mind.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love this movie, and I love this quote.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yep, a great artist, or scientist, or athlete, or whatever can come from anywhere. Even the 99%.

    ReplyDelete
  20. As an artist and a writer I've faced criticism more times than I can count. My two favorite quotes about critics read as follows:

    "When God created artists, he made critics from the scraps that were left over."--John Ruskin

    "Critiques are like eunuchs; they know how it's done, have seen it being done, but they just can't do it."
    -----Unknown

    ReplyDelete
  21. I haven't seen this movie yet. I did see Hugo over the weekend. Great art direction but the boy's quest gets a bit lost in the fawning adoration of the old film director. How's that for a crit!? As far as cooking, I've been experimenting with hijiki and nouri. They are great when sauteed with veggies, and then by adding in a bit of Japanese lemon-mayo and some golden raisins. Strange but awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  22. When Ratatouille came out, I read a review about it. The critic wasn't too enthused about the movie. After seeing it, I understood why.

    I thought that movie was great. And like everything Pixar has done (as well as many other animated films) it has some deep and meaningful things to say and to teach. And since Ratatouille was about art and criticism, I understood why the critic didn't appreciate what it had to say.

    Some lessons we just don't "get". It's hard to hear that your life's work wasn't worth anything. Of course, that's never true. But sometimes when we're criticized, we may think that it is.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I loved Ratatouille, and I love movies like this that can work on two levels: one for little kids and one for the grownups.

    I liked what Normal Mailer said about some of his critics: "I've never hit a critic, and I say that with some wistfulness."

    Then again, should a critic praise my writing I think that he or she is brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  24. If you look for flaws, flaws you will find. The review often says more about the reviewer than the work.

    It takes great strength and humility to admire the achievements of another.

    Also ...

    Haters gonna hate! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. This quote is awesome, so is ratatouille, and that's all my brain can process at 1:20am. (:

    ReplyDelete
  26. It's true. It's easier to be a critic than to do something creative on your own. I don't remember that quote from the movie. I should watch the movie again.

    ReplyDelete
  27. It's true. It's easier to be a critic than to do something creative on your own. I don't remember that quote from the movie. I should watch the movie again.

    ReplyDelete
  28. A very profound and thought-provoking couple of pieces, Michael.

    There are usually gems even in junk. I've learned to look for them.

    I've always appreciated different, but realize that's my own sensibility and mine is not average.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Like that you were willing to set your critic's eye aside, and step outside your comfort zone. You found something new and changed your perception.

    ReplyDelete

Advertisement 1