You would think that writers and poets make good critics. However, time and again, I see critiques of writing of writers and poets done by other writers and poets which are the worst kind of critiques one can see. Reason is that while these writers and poets write with great imagination but once they become a critic, some leave all imagination at the door. They fail to use their imagination in judging others' works.
You may ask that how is this possible? How can someone with a great imagination in their own writing fail to use it while reading others' works? But it is quite possible. These critics also lose sense of any perspective. Nothing worse than a critic who has no imagination, no sense of history, geograpgy and only has a figurative red pen to cross out work of others. I have seen how those who are satirists get upset reading others' satire because they even failed to get the point that it is satire. Not to just criticize others, I have to say that I have done it to others too. Sometimes I read a poet's poem and question them about details of it while all they have wanted to do was to exercise their imagination without having to worry about being "seen" and "jeem"ed as Iranians say. Next time you read a critique of a writer/poet by another writer or poet, ask yourself whether the critic has shown the imagination and sense of perspective in his/her critique that he/she regularly expects readers exercise when they read his/her own works? I venture that many times, the answer is a resounding No. By the way, feel free to take this blog 100% literally. I know many of you any way do that with any piece of writing, whereas in many cases, you should not. But for this one, it is meant to be 100% literal.
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thanks Rea for commenting
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 04:26 PM PDTRea, you wrote in your comment:"Words are like rivers. And I love rivers. In particular those forever changing. Like seasons. Flowing. "
very nice. Thanks for reading my blog and commenting.
I'm one of those eternally in love
by Rea on Mon Apr 04, 2011 04:03 PM PDTIn love with words.
Words are like rivers. And I love rivers. In particular those forever changing. Like seasons. Flowing.
I get shitty sometimes with people writing, I even get harsh. But that is part of it. Give n take.
PS. I don't write here, English is not my language. But I write elsewhere. What a pleasure it is to write and let you youself go. And then pour over it. Like a cat purring. ;o)
Dear Bahmani, I find this also sometimes true
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 03:27 PM PDTI have found it also true sometimes that a movie that gets horrible reviews might be a good movie to watch. Also when critics get "up in the arms" as you noted about some work, then a closer look is needed to see the merit of critique. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Critics are a good source of excellence
by bahmani on Mon Apr 04, 2011 03:01 PM PDTI especially use a negative review by a critic precisely to find some of the best work I have ever seen.
Almost always a bad film review to me, is a good film. same goes for just about anything. Even food.
Almost always the food review that is bad, shows the total weirdness of the writer's "sophisticated" palate that I find what they find horrible, truly tasty.
Same goes for just about anything that gets a critic up in arms.
Faramarz,
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 03:01 PM PDTYes, I have criticized the critics, similar to few days ago where ahang/shirin wrote a poem that was in fact stating her mokhalefat ba mokhalefan.
Dear MM, Naficy made a big deal out
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:23 PM PDTOf Hedayat' mustache. Naficy uses this mustache story as a hook to get readers interested in his article. He then goes on and on about the mustache for lines in the start of article. Then what does he do in the footnote? Naficy in the footnote tells us that actually Charlie Chaplin had same type of mustache and Naficy in the footnote writes how Hitler had special interest in Chaplin movies and Hitler might have done his mustache in imitation of Chaplin. Now, I want to have Mash Ghasem think of his first comment to me on this thread. He implied that I should not have got upset because a writer was criticized. What had upset me was not criticism of Hedayat regarding issue of "najad parastee". I have even written poems against nejad parastee shown towards Arabs. What was upsetting was the use of this cheap and possibly untrue mustache hook to get readers interested in reading a critique of Hedayat. Before reading Naficy's foot note, I commented how Chaplin and Hardy the comedian both had same mustache. Then I saw that Naficy knew of this and even agreed that it was possibly a Chaplin mustache not Hitler. Still, Mr Naficy used this cheap hook. That was not a display of objectivity and he lost some objective readers right there.
Anahid, As the famous
by MM on Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:40 AM PDTAnahid,
As the famous saying goes, critics are dime-a-dozen and unfortunately they are not always objective and mix personal vandetta along with some "facts" to emphasize their points.
In the blog that I think you are referring to, e.g., I would have preferred to see the author start with some thing like this:
SH was one of the great thinkers and satirist of Iran in early 20th century. He presented himself as a modern man (no abaa), a popular mostache and wearing a stylish pair of glasses. Unfortunately, SH's modern look also projected hidden prejudices towards other races/religion......., e.g., Maziar,..... in his writings.
However, by starting on SH's mustache in 2 paragraphs and then tighing them to Hitler, the author lost my insterest since I sensed that he was trying to create a stereotype that pre-dated Hitler and his crush of the Jews.
...
by Mash Ghasem on Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:27 AM PDTIn respect to Rafigh Majid, I had to control meslef in his blog, and be as respectrful as possible!
The individual we're both referrign to in here could use so much more colorful language, but what's the use. He did his damage and we're left with cleaning it up!cheers
... ولی انقلابهای پرولتری ... مدام از خود انتقاد می کنند، پی در پی حرکت خود را متوقف می سازند و به آنچه که انجام یافته به نظر می رسد باز می گردند تا بار دیگر آن را از سر بگیرند، خصلت نیم بند و جوانب ضعف و فقر تلاشهای اولیه خود را بی رحمانه به باد استهزا می گیرند، دشمن خود را گویی فقط برای آن بر زمین می کوبند که از زمین نیروی تازه بگیرد و بار دیگر غول آسا علیه آنها قد برافرازد... مارکس، هجدهم بروم ...
Anahid
by Faramarz on Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:24 AM PDTDespite your blog and the criticism of the criticism, I still believe that you should listen to your parents and do not leave 13-Bedar early!
Also, I think the reason Esfand's Koobideh and Khoreshts are not as tasty as they should be, is the lack of Zardchoobeh and other Advieh!
thanks MG for reading and commenting
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:09 AM PDTAt least unlike you, I did not call people SOB in my writing.
...
by Mash Ghasem on Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:45 AM PDTBelive it or not "Criticism " is considered a science and an art form, unlike making Khoresht you need to attend institutions of higher education to learn how to do this in 21 century. Just having a PC and acess to a site are not the highest qualifications.
Merely feeling insecure about how a writer is being analayzed, does not constitute "criticism!"
Thanks Ostaad Noury for writing
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:33 AM PDTNames of those whom you consider as the best book viewers.
Well said
by M. Saadat Noury on Mon Apr 04, 2011 09:34 AM PDTOf course with some exceptions: Abbas Eghbal Ashtiani, Iraj Afshar, Saifolah Vahid Nia, Habib Yaghmaii, and many others were among the best book reviewer.
Thanks critic but that article is not only reason
by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Apr 04, 2011 09:02 AM PDTThat I wrote this blog. However, I do admit that I seem to see many critiques of other writers and poets done by Mr. Naficy and I would like to read them to see if he is one such critic. As of now, I can not say that he is. Additionally, in recent days, there have been other instances that a story has been treated with harsh criticism from other writers. In some cases, one point of discussion has been that the critic has failed to see the writer has used his/her imagination. To make it short, that Hedayat related article is not sole reason for this blog, though reading it and also participating in that comment thread gave me the idea for this blog.
I am no writer and no poet!
by Literary Critic on Mon Apr 04, 2011 08:33 AM PDTThat's why I became a literary critic :)
And if I am not mistaken this is why you wrote this blog:
//iranian.com/main/2011/apr-5
If so, you are very right Anahid khanom, I couldn't agree more!