Aereopagus Smithy  Criticism Service Submit a work for criticism

The purpose of criticism is the refinement of art. Artists are indiscriminate lovers of their own creations. The critic's art is discrimination.

A work of art consists of inspiration and exression. Where there is no inspiration, there is no art. Where the inspiration is poorly expressed, there is bad art. The critic's job is to be a furnace in which the uninspired is revealed to be ash, and the inspired is purified of dross.

The artist who will not accept criticism is not misunderstood: he is understood too well. He is Frankenstein gloating over his monster and proclaiming that the scars are the Masterpeice. The greatest obstacle to art is pride. Criticism is the crucible of humility.

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