07-01-2016, 07:55 AM
while Leanne is correct that you have posed a false dichotomy, i think what you really mean is: is pointing out the flaws in a poem more beneficial to the poet than pointing out the strengths? and actually, i think Leanne's comment is telling, because, again, as she says if you only want the positive half of the criticism go to a vanity site [meant disparagingly, i presume]; yet, if you want only the different half, the negative half, the half that tells you what's wrong, that's far more acceptable. why? well, i would suggest, thoughtful and informed 'negative' criticism is always productive, whereas praise is relatively static and self-contained. it builds confidence but practically rarely improves the quality of future efforts - unless, of course, you have found your voice and feel pretty confident that you are, indeed, a poet.
for example, i recently had nothing but praise for a certain poem posted here called 'lipstick'. one of the things i praised if for was it's use of form to represent the concept. now, what does the poet do with that? nods and says 'glad you liked it'. it doesn't move anything forward. on the other hand, his edit did not use this form which i saw as a detriment to the poem. this 'negative' criticism [that in changing the form the poem loses something] could conceivably cause a change. not necessarily, but the possibility is there - although, probably not cos' that fella's not been seen for dust.
the other thing is, so-called negatived criticism gives you a sort of conceptual space to be creative and original. and this is why the cliche is one of the best criticisms one can drum into a new poet. someone writes something cliche. tell them. they do it again. tell them again. eventually, they'll be looking for it themselves. and this isn't just about improving their writing, it is giving them space to be genuinely creative. basically, it is like chasing them down a bottleneck whereby they will pop out the other end into their own space of possibilities. and this is just one thing. even simpler is spelling [i've had my own led/lead problems today]. it would be pointless to praise someone's spelling. but point out a misspelling and it has some practical value.
but, this isn't to say praise is completely irrelevant. it certainly inspires confidence to continue; which is definitely why criticism shouldn't be all about the flaws.
NOTE: when i say flaws or 'negative criticism', i am pretty much talking about the fundamentals and what the intentions were of the poet. for example, i am sure no one really sets out to write a cliched poem, therefore it is a valid criticism and helpful and productive. and this comes down to the critic's judgement. there are of course grey areas of taste and all that, but the principle of 'negative' criticism being an active force remains. it is a bit like what Schopenhauer said about pain being positive and wellbeing being negative. he said something like one hardly notices their physical body when in a state of rest and comfort. . . but get a tiny little stone stuck in your shoe. . .
anyway, i am rambling on. . . s'wot i finks anyways.
for example, i recently had nothing but praise for a certain poem posted here called 'lipstick'. one of the things i praised if for was it's use of form to represent the concept. now, what does the poet do with that? nods and says 'glad you liked it'. it doesn't move anything forward. on the other hand, his edit did not use this form which i saw as a detriment to the poem. this 'negative' criticism [that in changing the form the poem loses something] could conceivably cause a change. not necessarily, but the possibility is there - although, probably not cos' that fella's not been seen for dust.
the other thing is, so-called negatived criticism gives you a sort of conceptual space to be creative and original. and this is why the cliche is one of the best criticisms one can drum into a new poet. someone writes something cliche. tell them. they do it again. tell them again. eventually, they'll be looking for it themselves. and this isn't just about improving their writing, it is giving them space to be genuinely creative. basically, it is like chasing them down a bottleneck whereby they will pop out the other end into their own space of possibilities. and this is just one thing. even simpler is spelling [i've had my own led/lead problems today]. it would be pointless to praise someone's spelling. but point out a misspelling and it has some practical value.
but, this isn't to say praise is completely irrelevant. it certainly inspires confidence to continue; which is definitely why criticism shouldn't be all about the flaws.
NOTE: when i say flaws or 'negative criticism', i am pretty much talking about the fundamentals and what the intentions were of the poet. for example, i am sure no one really sets out to write a cliched poem, therefore it is a valid criticism and helpful and productive. and this comes down to the critic's judgement. there are of course grey areas of taste and all that, but the principle of 'negative' criticism being an active force remains. it is a bit like what Schopenhauer said about pain being positive and wellbeing being negative. he said something like one hardly notices their physical body when in a state of rest and comfort. . . but get a tiny little stone stuck in your shoe. . .
anyway, i am rambling on. . . s'wot i finks anyways.