August’s Theme is Critical
Our August theme is Critical, chosen by our Calgary chapter, illustrated by Maedeh Mosaverzadeh, and presented by Mailchimp.
To be critical means to be like a sieve, dividing and separating. Our critical abilities allows us to discern the insubstantial from the made-to-last, the credible from the untrustworthy, the sincere from the ego-driven. We do so by gathering more information, seeking nuance, and locating something in its specific context.
Critical feedback is essential for our growth. Poet Adrienne Rich advises, “Responsibility to yourself means seeking out criticism, recognizing that the most affirming thing anyone can do for your is demand that you push yourself further.”
But being needlessly critical — especially of ourselves — can stifle the creative impulse. Few are as harsh as our own internal critic. How can we hone our perception, spotting what needs to evolve, without becoming ruthless? How can we remain astute while not losing sight of all that is inherently good and whole? It’s critical.
We asked you to share stories, images, and other artifacts that speak to what “critical” means to you. Here’s what you shared:
🔎 Critical Reflections
I made a silent retreat at the end of last year that showed me how critical it is to hear our own voice and be able to sit with our worst fears. Those 5 days of silence, only with me and my thoughts, allowed me to find a clarity and discernment that were critical to my life. Also, journaling is a fundamental part of making sense of my feelings and what’s going on inside myself. I created a monthly magazine in Portuguese for sharing my thoughts and internal processes. — Ana I. Azevedo, Porto, Portugal
For 9-1-1 responders, “critical” is a daily occurrence. Critical could be an auto accident, a health related emergency, a wildfire, tornado, flood, domestic incident, or it could be a lonely person who is struggling with daily life. Sometimes, people confuse what’s considered critical, calling 9-1-1 for directions, the time, or even a weather report. Regardless, each caller is treated with the same concern and attention. The technology behind 9-1-1 is always considered critical: redundancy, connection, security, and data management all are built with critical incidents in mind. Being a mission-critical response that is always there, 24/7 every day of the year, unseen and undervalued until needed. I work for the State Authority over 9-1-1, working to ensure funding, training, support, and accountability is provided so that dispatchers can provide critical response to citizens. — Stacey Root, Oklahoma City, U.S.
Seeking out critique of your art or your work is a precarious business! If your reviewer doesn’t know what you need, they might send back feedback that isn’t useful to you at your stage of the creative process, or, worse, say something bruising without being constructive. Previously, I’ve sent my music out to someone only to hear them say “this isn’t to my taste.” That’s why I decided to be explicit about naming the kind of critique that would be useful for me and created a protocol for requesting feedback. My friend Weyam remixed the protocol into this awesome graphic and added their own twists and objectives. You can make a copy of it for your own use here. — Alexa Kutler, Brooklyn — Design by Weyam
I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln: “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” —Ana Torralba, Madrid, Spain
It is critical we stop comparing the highlight reels on social media with the backstories of our real lives. We may stop being so critical with others and ourselves if we stopped comparing. Discernment starts there. To contemplate these ideas, I wrote a blog and a poem (below), paired with the image (above). — Fateme Banishoeib, Lisbon, Portugal
Where the apparent order leaves space to reality
Where a woman hangs the working clothes washed with soap and sweat
Where flags dance with the wind
Where the voices come up unseparated in a day to day conversation
Where the deities watch the flowers blossom
Where a cat hides to find rest
Back side of lives lived full front
The reason we struggle comparing the backside with the highlight
Where insecurity becomes a messy balcony on the back side
When I saw this month’s theme, I was immediately asking myself how can I be less of a critic and more of a critical thinker. These two articles (1, 2) really helped support me on this journey:
What especially helped me was this passage from the first article:
“Missed opportunity, whether it be learning or professional, is often a result of someone assuming they have performed a critical analysis when in fact they have only been a critic. The difference is critics look for flaws and try to poke holes in every argument. A critic’s goal is to nit-pick details and discredit.
On the other hand, critical thinkers seek understanding and to apply what they’ve understood. They do not dismiss people or information rather are open to learning and exploring new ideas. Critics analyze to find flaws while critical thinkers analyze to learn.” — Krista MacDonald, Denver, U.S.
Critical has an innate element of sustainability. Sustainability that is directed towards the ideal of harmonious, balanced living. I am curious to try this for questioning ‘critical’. — Sharri (Yoder) Greene, Germany
The handcraft of Aranmula kannadi mirrors is a dying art that needs hard work and critical thinking to keep it alive. Watch this short documentary to see how they’re made. — Prakhar Deep Jain, India
A former therapist once gave me an assignment: make a list of my “non-negotiables.” This was a list of my own rules that I would not compromise on in my life. It’s proven an incredibly valuable list to return to in times of frustration, stress, and especially confusion when it comes to personal wayfinding. Having this tool to remind myself of what is most critical has proven valuable time and time again. —Casey Greenleaf, Brooklyn, U.S.