Cultivating The Inner Critic
Starling
After Playtime...Critique
Personally, it has taken some time to actually establish a helpful relationship with my own inner critic. It was not always comfortable to sit with it and listen to it’s critical judgement about me, my appearance, my art, my efforts. It was not until I realized I had to create criteria for my critic to work with that I was able to actually hear the things necessary for me to really develop and find acceptance. But I have become more and more confident in my own efforts by building a real relationship with my critical self. It has helped me hone my efforts in ways that may not always be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is my own.
I also discussed this topic because, for me…art is a structural system that helps us scaffold ourselves to build a super stable core. The process of art criticism and learning to evaluate a work of art, citing evidence and evaluating our own relationship with our opinions actually extends way past art. It is a system that helps us begin to develop critical thought in a way that still allows for symbolic, metaphorical and spiritual meaning. It is not purely rational or analytical. In that way allows instinct and intuition, in a way that encourages the development of personal aesthetics and inner knowings.
Listen in at the link below and then explore the curated content around this subject. You will also find information about the classes and groups at Starling Art Studios that are currently enrolling for February.
John Berger
Starling Art Studios
Starling Collective Starts In February
Creative Meditations
Wednesday evening sessions have space available. Learn more by clicking the picture below.
Art Club
Thursday Artist Meetups
Suggested Practices:
- Choose a work of art that you don’t care for and spend a good amount of time with it. Go through the critique process. Documenting each step…Observe, analyze, interpret, evaluate….and see what it points you to about yourself…what does that point out not only about the art you are critiquing…but about yourself in relationship.
- I would suggest to do that with works you like too…it could deepen your appreciation or give you a different understanding of yourself in relationship.
- Try it with music….with movies….tv….video games
- Consider the criteria you are using in your evaluation process…maybe document the criteria you are working with and see how that may change over time.
- Once you have practiced the process with works by other people, and you feel ready…go through the process with your own work. Trying to remain objective and honest with yourself.
- Ask someone else to go through the process with you. To see how you arrive at your judgement verses how they arrive at their’s. The more people you can do this with the better. As it really gives you insight into your own process to see it happen in others.
- Consider how you have arrived at judgements and beliefs you hold about situations, other people, ideas, cultures and so on. When you step back and go through a critical process with it, as you would with a work of art…how does it enhance your own understanding of the concepts and your relationship to them.
- As we move into whatever is coming, good bad or indifferent…consider how slowing down and critiquing can give you a more full understanding of your relationship to all of it. As you strengthen and develop your personal internal support structure…this process will happen more quickly, fluid and naturally.
Playlist: Inner Critic
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