Constructive vs Negative Criticism

          Today in college we were to critique each others projects in Design Fundamentals for the first time. The project was to draw an asymmetrical and a symmetrical picture. He explained to us why critiquing is important. (It prepares us for interviews, presentations, and having an open mind.) I have a tendency not to speak-up in these sort of situations. I am not a confrontational person so this is a little bit of an uncomfortable process for me on both ends. I really, truly do want to be a more honest, down-to-earth person when it comes to giving critiques, so it is a work in process. I also really want to develop how I respond to constructive and negative criticism.

     So, when it was my turn to present my project I explained how one of my pictures where asymmetrical and the other symmetrical based off of the guidelines and instructions provided to us. (My A-Sym was a picture that consisted of squares in cool colors and a focal point of a rounded shape with warm colors, in the corner by itself.) (My Sym was a picture of large rounded shapes in cool colors with the focal points being smaller rounded shapes in warm colors.)    When I was done a girl critiqued that my symmetrical picture did not apply to the project. I made a confused face at this remark and so the teacher jumped in to defend her before I could defend myself. He said that the symmetrical had multiple focal points. (At the time so many things were rushing through my head I did not have the opportunity to point out that in the guide lines one of the elements of design specifically said "focal points".) Then other students jumped in and another girl said that the colors and shapes where hurting her eyes and another agreed with more mumbles from the class and then she added that one of my squares was colored too differently from the other in my symmetrical (the cool colors of the large squares where in tints of light greens, blues, and grays and one was in a light tan) her argument was that the tan one was the focal point instead of the obvious dark and warm colored smaller squares with details inside. After this the teacher praised his own approval of the Asymmetrical that I asked him about prior to the making of the project. While he was doing this, the girls continued to chatter while he was talking.

    On account of what I just explained from a spectators view point I now want to tell you what was and is going  through my head in this situation. - The first person to comment immediately kind of had snappiness to her comment, as if to say "why are you so confident". I wonder why her first critique was a negative one. This lead me to think that it was more of a personal thing toward me. She didn't critique nicely, her voice tone was a bit hostile and critical in a negative since. I thought it was a personal matter because maybe she was jealous. My theories are: she can sense some potential in me so she wanted to break me down, she was insecure possibly about her own work compared to my bright, bold, daring colors with high intensity that I have shown in my other artwork as well, that it was physical insecurities (she is a blond hair, blue-eyed, slender female and I have more of an exotic and exaggerated look; shiny dark brown hair with a curly texture, butterscotch skin, dark brown almond eyes, long eyelashes, my nose isn't broad, full lips, and a curvy figure. Physically I have thought of myself as intimidating because of my facial features, the way I carry myself and my hair texture because I don't relax it. I believe that most people could expect or even want little of me, but to find out I am unafraid but they still consider me fragile and defenseless enough to test me. They may also be confused by my character because I have many abilities such as leadership but I choose to stay quiet in most situations. On another more spiritual theory it’s that I am a Christian and as one I choose to carry the traits that Jesus possessed and the ones spoken through the bible etc. People who are not saved or lack wisdom to understand lash out because it is natural to them, they don't know how to control themselves, don't practice it, or knows it is not right but chooses otherwise. - Theses theories could also apply to the other students too. No one made a positive critique except for the teacher on the one that he gave his opinion on prior to me finishing the project. (But after the critiques and he took a break a girl I lent my pencil to earlier that day was returning it to me and she said that she liked my project. She's nice; I could tell it was sincere. I think also because she is pregnant and her nice and motherly instincts are coming out. Which is still nice because some moms-to-be don't even have that.)

   I try to let my mind and emotions settle because I don't want to let things like that affect me in a negative way. Also I believe that when someone tries to break you down by telling you the truth or something in a negative or hostile way, you have the choice to either let them win (your confidence is shattered, because of the focus on the negative) or you win (you use them as your footstool; they thought what was going to be a negative and hurtful action toward you was going to be enough to stop you from getting ahead of them, but actually they tripped themselves up leaving themselves vulnerable, because now you know their weakness, and since they tripped over their own two feet there yours to climb up onto higher destinations…)

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