Everyone's Got An Opinion

As the son of a film critic, I learned early on about the nature of criticism, and the fragile relationship that exists between critic and criticized. I grew up to become an actor and artist, as well as writer and director (there are those who would say the aforementioned never grow up), and as such have faced my share of slings and arrows. As a result I've developed a fairly thick skin. I know what I'm trying to accomplish, so it doesn't matter to me whether a critic likes or doesn't like what I do, I'm only interested in whether or not I've succeeded in my intentions. To me, therefore, criticism is less of a judgment about me than about the critic. And there are very few genuinely skilled critics. Most of them are arrogant dunderheads, who pontificate and take great delight in their own cheap shots, and then, if criticized themselves, snootily declare, "well, it's only my opinion." The fact is, I haven't learned any more from most of the critics who've loved my work than from those who've slammed me, and the harsh review from the rare skilled critic can be very instructive. I got my best and worst notice on the same project, a play by my friend Bayard Johnson that I directed, and in which I played the lead role. The Los Angeles Times raved, even singling out my performance for recognition at the end of the year. The Dramalogue reviewer said, "John Crowther would have done himself a favor by casting a different actor, or perhaps hiring a different director, or better still, both." Ya gotta love 'em all.

My friend Jean Burman, an artist and writer in Australia, had some wise words about criticism recently on her blog (www.jeanburman.com). And while I'm at it I also strongly recommend the blog of another friend, Vernita Hoyt, also a wonderful artist living and working in Texas(http://www.txsauce.blogspot.com/).