Defending Criticism (from Trump)

Poet and literary critic Adam Kirsch wrote this magnificent polemic recently in the Book Review section of The New York Times. It takes as its jumping off point some recent comments by President Donald Trump in which Trump essentially declares as worthless the contributions of critics to society and culture. In a powerful rebuke of that idea, Kirsch argues for the essential value of critical thought and shows that a disdain for it leads to dangerous outcomes. The whole thing is masterfully reasoned and you ought to read in its entirety, but I will excerpt some of the choicest bits here because I find it so invigoratingly effective.

First, starting with this typically bombastic quote from the man most of us didn’t vote for:

“Nothing is easier or more pathetic than being a critic, because they’re the people that can’t get the job done.” — Donald Trump, Liberty University, May 2017

For many people, the ignorant hostility of that quote alone is perhaps all the advocacy for the worth of criticism that needs to be made. However, Kirsch reasons further that, in spite of the fact that criticism is often unwanted and unpleasant, it is the unavoidable consequence of human endeavors.

“Once a work of art emerges from its creator’s study or studio, it becomes the possession of anyone who interacts with it, and therefore it is open to judgment.” — Adam Kirsch, How to Live with Critics (Whether You’re an Artist or the President, The New York Times, June 14, 2017)

And…

“Do I actually derive pleasure and enlightenment from it? There is no way to stifle this question, which is the foundation of all criticism. Every reader or listener asks it, whether they want to or not.” — Adam Kirsch, How to Live with Critics (Whether You’re an Artist or the President, The New York Times, June 14, 2017)

Criticism may be inevitable, but Kirsch contends that it is also inherently complementary to the principles of democracy.

“The realm of [critical] judgment is plural. Everyone brings his or her own values and standards to the work of judging. This means that it is also, essentially, democratic.” — Adam Kirsch, How to Live with Critics (Whether You’re an Artist or the President, The New York Times, June 14, 2017)

And finally, Kirsch asserts our right—all of us in this country—to criticism.

“For in politics, as in art, the right to criticize is really the right to make an independent judgment of reality. Democracy relies on a citizenry informed and active enough to make such judgments; in a democracy, we are all critics.” — Adam Kirsch, How to Live with Critics (Whether You’re an Artist or the President, The New York Times, June 14, 2017)

I implore you to read the full article at nytimes.com.

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