Critique

To critiqueis to review or analyse something critically and carefully. The word critisise is the anglo-sised version of the word and generally seen in a negative light. Critique is the French variant and is seen as the more helpful verb. It all comes from the Greek word ‘Kritikos’ meaning skilled in judging. It is a very important part of any art making, writing or research based work. It always needs to be peer–reviewed and critiqued. What if there is something glaringly obvious that is of use, right in front of you and you have been staring at it for so long, you forgot to see it? You should not be scared of this process, you should want it to happen. It is helpful and necessary. 

That is the next step for our blogging students. They are going to take what is on their blog, and what they have in paper notes and have a group critique in class. This is usually like pulling teeth. However, 2 of my students have already used other online forums to discuss their actual blogs and therefore their work, many of the students blogs have been seen by staff members here at Hornby High School and I am hoping that in publishing their work and explaining it, even if it is just a little, they will have broken down that fear a little.  

The questions I want them to answer for this critique are:

-          What was your initial concept? Can you put it in one sentence?

-          How do your objects/imagery relate to this concept?

-          What are you favourite artist models and how do they relate to your concept and subject? If they don’t, does this matter?

-          Do you feel that your work is at the skill level required at level 2?

Beyond that, I want them to interact with each other, offer advice and support to one another and lift their general camaraderie with each other to a more 'professional' status.