Catherine to Peter: You Suck

Criticism never stings as much as when it comes from those you love. In this case Catherine, who was following my nascent attempts at podcasting on the road, told me that my podcasts sounded like the audio equivalent of my father’s travel diaries (which are famous in our family for including entries like “7:34 a.m. — Had a pee”). In other words, I prattled on.

Upon hearing this review from Catherine I realized that all my pronouncements about the value of criticism, about how how artists and actors should be able to separate “the art” from “the self” and use criticism as objective feedback to better themselves was, well, deluded. Or at least overly optimistic.

Honest creation is the self. So hearing “your art sucks” is hard to differentiate from “you suck.” But we can try.

At this point I have three choices: claim that I wasn’t prattling at all (hard), claim that prattling was the point (tried, didn’t work), or take her comments to heart and prattle less. I’ll try number three.

Thanks Catherine. I love you.

Comments

Kevin O's picture
Kevin O on June 18, 2005 - 05:56 Permalink

There’s more in this than it may appear at first glance. Your clinical self-surgery is thought provoking. Ask any clumsy teen; somtimes growing sucks.

albert's picture
albert on July 12, 2005 - 09:07 Permalink

first of all if you cant take critism then get NOW! the fact that you are complaing about this on the internet says that you dont take critism well.people are always going hate you or what you no matter what and the truth is maybe you do suck and it wasnt the qualityyou were recordind on.

Cyn's picture
Cyn on July 12, 2005 - 09:45 Permalink

Albert, your post reminds me of MSN-ing with a 15 year old. No CAPS and no regard for spelling or use of spacing.

LARRY  JAY's picture
LARRY JAY on July 30, 2005 - 03:48 Permalink

your dad seems very fatherly, & was probly speeking the truth. Which is rare these day’s so mann up sissy