00. Critique as Particle Accelerator
Introduction
Sometimes we will talk about work in class and I want to get into the practice of doing a couple things better for both the level of criticality that I expect in the class, and the level of exubherance I would like to have and think critique can attain, but only with mutual concerted effort.
First, a Chat
- What good critique experiences have you had? Why?
- What bad experiences with critique have you had? Why?
- What would you like from a critique experience?
- Describe an ideal critique scenario.
Critique as Particle Accelerator
I want to think of critique as something like, a particle accelerator. One of the uses of particle accelerators is to test theories of particle physics. Some of these theories involve the early universe. In order to simulate conditions closer to the Big Bang, particles are, as the name implies, accelerated in order to create new, previously unknown, particles.
particles colliding at great speed ↔ Your thoughts colliding with a work
Second, an Exercise
- Examine the work
- Note your immediate reactions
- Note why they happen
- Think again about where in the work they come from
- Think about cultural associations you receive
- Think about familiar experiences you receive
- Note these and note their relative strength