9 Best Articles on Criticism

To be criticised is never pleasant. It is rarely a good day when we have to read an unflattering social media post about ourselves, when we are given harsh feedback on a project or hear that we are…

«If criticism from outside proves devastating, it is because it so readily joins forces with an infinitely more strident and more aggressive form of criticism that has long existed inside of us.»

You’ll never make everybody happy—and the people that aren’t happy are liable to tell you why. Criticism is part of the price of being human. But even though we know that, it’s hard to deal when the…

Today, criticism is being practiced and received as an artform in its own right. What makes this possible, and can it last?

Tips for dealing with criticism—when you agree with it, and when you don’t

«In these more educational environments, where no one expects me to be perfect, negative feedback is reframed. It’s not criticism; it’s teaching.»

Most of us are subjected to insults, sarcastic comments or bad feedback in our everyday lives. But we weren't built to deal with torrents of criticism.

Many of us take it for granted that coping requires some degree of self-deception — but that’s just not true. Writer and podcaster Julia Galef shares some better strategies we can use t…

«“a vitally important yet underappreciated skill: Being able to see things as they are, not as you wish they were.”»

New research upends the assumption that criticism always impedes creative brainstorming.

Criticism is especially difficult for children whose mothers have depression.

«Children of depressed mothers tend to respond more negatively to criticism than children of non-depressed mothers.»

John Guillory’s forthcoming book Professing Criticism will force professors to rethink graduate education and challenge literary scholars to confront the paradoxes inherent to the discipline.