Eight responses to a bad review

From painter Joanne Mattera, here, including number one, which is, Don’t Jump!

Small world department: Edward Winkleman opened a thread this morning on the subject of dealing with bad reviews.

I’ve written my share, even though if I’ve freely chosen the artist (as opposed to being assigned), I’ve rarely picked someone whose work I find to be without consequence.

A review is an engagement, an examination of the specifics of a response written to evoke response in others. Who wants to dance with the dead? Nothing will come of nothing. As Grace Paley noted, where there is real disagreement, there’s no point arguing.

At worst, a review articulates the limits of a critic’s imagination. (I can’t see you.) A negative may be intended by critics as a prod, but it always serves as their mirror.