On Criticism in General Options

[Rick]

I am not an experienced poet, so am not fully qualified to criticize poems. However, I have some experience in another art field, bonsai, and I offer what I learned about criticism there for your consideration.

My first bonsai teacher was Jim Tatsukawa, now deceased, and he was a bit of a controversial figure in the bonsai world in California because he had a liberal approach. He said over and over "good bonsai is what you like." When a student would bring a tree to him, Jim would first ask "what do you see in this tree?" Then he would work with the student to help him develop his vision.

Another teacher of mine was John Naka, also now deceased. John is generally regarded as the greatest bonsaist who ever lived outside of Japan. When I first met John Naka he would come to my local bonsai club and perform demonstrations. Later, as his health declined, he was unable to demonstrate, but he would perform public critiques of bonsai. Club members would bring their best bonsai for criticism. John was always amazingly gracious in his criticism. No matter how bad the tree was, he would find something good about it and talk about that first. Then he would move on to show how the student could improve the tree. His comments were always constructive and at a level to enable the student to make real progress.

There is a memorial dedicated to John Naka at the bonsai collection at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. John's life and teaching are exemplary of the best that one can aspire to. He demonstrated that criticism itself is a high art.

[+Steven Curtis Lance]

(The green color is for the bonsai trees of which you speak...)

These are wise words, Rick, and I couldn't agree more. I am no longer moderating the critique board here, or I would pin this topic to the top of the board, but I would truly appreciate it if you would also post these wise words on the poetry board, where I could and would do so. I didn't realize I was no longer moderating this particular board, by the way, until just now... no longer any "moderation options"... oh well... apparently it is time for the next generation hereabouts...

See you on the poetry board, then!

Respect and Solidarity.

[Rick]

+Steven, thanks for your kind words. It might be a bit presumptious of me to post the same thing on two boards, but if the moderator here takes your advice and pins this one, then you might edit your "please read" topic to add a pointer to this one.