"The critic's symbol should be the tumble-bug: he deposits his egg in somebody else's dung, otherwise he could not hatch it.” – Mark Twain
Why it's always important to only show copies of your work upon submission
What a better way to round out the day after a good critique in the class than to follow it up with being on the other side of the desk. The monthly pilgrimage downtown to humbly submit another batch of fresh, steaming Nuggets is an excruciatingly agonizing ritual of meekly prostrating myself and offering up the sacrificial work before the cold, hearthumorless and cynically cruel editorial review board.
Far from being rubber-stamped as an entrenched local feature, it ain't like all one has to do is simply make these guys laugh and, ta-daa, your in: there's the host of other factors to consider to like upholding community standards of taste and common decency.
Seriously though, I had the opportunity to link theory with practice today by discussing with my students after their own review how in the "real world" an artist can be called to task and have to explain or justify their works, if not the reason for their very existence. Case in point being the behind-the-scenes groveling that's part of the job description. Even the royal court jesters of old knew they were a hairs-breadth away from summary execution after one bad joke.
An unedited opinion from the Opinion Editor
And it's equally uncompromising in the classroom: being continually subjected to public humiliation and mockery keeps you humble, and more importantly for cartoonists and teachers alike, full of bitter resentments and a long, vengeful memory.
Heh, just kidding.
“Don't pay any attention to the critics - don't even ignore them.” – Samuel Goldwyn
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