In a class discussion I was emailed this note:

David,

I felt the need to send you a message to address the debate between you and Xxxxx. I’m doing my very best to be constructive here, so please bear that in mind, if you could. (read: If this comes across bitchy even in the slightest way, that wasn’t at all how I intended it.)

You know I love your work. I gush over it every week. You’re amazing. You know it. XXXX knows it. We all know it.

We appreciate your feedback and technical help, but, at the same time, you can be a little heavy handed with the criticism. I don’t think you mean to be that way, which is why I haven’t said anything up until this point. I understand that in this program we communicate in a world of black and white. There are no intonations or instantaneous explanations during discussion when feelings get hurt. It is just the nature of the beast.

With that said, I sometimes cringe when I see that you’ve commented on my work (thought sometimes I get very excited when you like what I’ve done). I know it’s difficult to be one of the more advanced people in the class, but we aren’t all as versed in Photoshop as you are. That, too, is the nature of the beast. We’re all trying, and sometimes we have to sugar coat a little in order for our comments to remain constructive.

I get what Xxxxx is trying to say in her statement and I get what she is trying to do in her work. So do you, obviously, as you made her a further abstracted version of her work. I really liked it and I hope she does as well. I understand that maybe her statement isn’t lending to what she is doing, but there are much more constructive ways to say what you’re saying. I understand that sometimes it is difficult, but it’s worth a try. If something is unclear, maybe you could giver her an interpretation of what you think she is trying to do and ask if you are correct in your interpretation instead of insisting that she spell it out week after week.

Also, please take into consideration that if her work infuriates you that much, don’t comment on it anymore. You aren’t required to comment on everyone’s work every week.

I’m really sorry if this email has in any way offended you as that was, again, not my intention.

~~XXX

I responded:

Hi XXX,

Thanks for the note.
If I don’t like something because it fails or falls below the standards of the class requirements then I will certainly say so. Even if I’m wrong as I explain below.

This is a Master’s level course. Keep this in mind. This is a graduate course, not a high school course.

As such, the gloves should come off on every review. At times, there are certain aspects of work I see that I like but if they are not salient to the assignment and readily solvable – and there are often a multitude of solutions – then I won’t bother with the ‘bad’ or ‘poor’ aspects of someone’s work.

When I see that an image is a really good example of answering the assignment then I will praise that work and discuss, using the terms of the course and our line of study as best as possible, what and why I find makes the work successful.

During orientation we were specifically told not to make frivilious ‘oh that’s nice’, or ‘great job’ or ‘I don’t like that’ or ‘that sucks’ comments. Yet, I see it in posts in my classes. We SHOULD NOT sugar coat anything. This is a formal learning experience for everyone and there is not place for sugar-coating anything. There is no sugar-coating when our portfolios are reviewed by gallery owners, art brokers, agents, art directors, HR managers, bosses and our final graduation project committee. Heh…maybe our collective hobby groups are appropriate venues for sugar-coating, but not in class.
Again this is a Master’s level class.

As a former university instructor my greatest frustration with my classes is the discussion. Students get the chance to learn from each other and each others’ experiences in relationship to a topic. The asynchronous nature of online courses is good because it allows for longer thoughts to develop before posting and online is bad as it prevents spontaneous debates. I don’t see a lot of longer thoughts or engaging debate…yet.

While I appreciate XXX’s work I wish he would promote more engagement in bringing out more conversations and debate. We are here to learn, that’s why I’m here. I’m getting a lot out of these classes and I already see improvements in my work as a photographer, even if I’ve doing this for 40 years, I see improvements!

I have tried to get Xxxxx’s statement and I don’t. Other students don’t’ get it either. The instructor doesn’t get it. I took a stab at part of her statement to show her how difficult it was it interpret. It is unclear and one of her foundational concepts is just plain wrong.

Her problem in her responses are many-fold
1: She won’t take any criticism, not from me, not from other students, and not from the instructor.
2: She is reactive to any criticism: Her response to me was not well-formed; she didn’t understand some of the points I was attempting to make nor asked for clarification if there was a point she didn’t
Understand; She also attacked me personally which is really poor form in any course, let alone a Master’s program.
3: Her project statement is severely flawed which doesn’t make her work align, even closely, to that statement.

Nobody’s work infuriates me. I see she has done a really bad job matching her statement and I will comment on things I find correct and incorrect with the work of others.

I hope you see where I am coming from in this.
Now, as far as your suggestion that I don’t comment if I don’t like something and that I’m not required to comment on everyone’s work, Bah. If I wanted a lower grade I’d do the required minimum as many do. If I wanted to get a lesser paying job at a weaker art school I’d do the minimum. Don’t you find bar pretty low on required discussions? Really now, three postings to other students?

How do we expect to get better at this if we don ‘t attempt to participate as much as possible. Can your or my comments be wrong, certainly! Absolutely! We are here to learn and if we don’t make mistakes here we will make them in the real world. This (very pricey) Master’s program is our venue to make all the mistakes we can possibly make. I make a concerted effort to comment on everyone’s work. This is part of my training – it may or may not be part of yours.

Let’s go make lots of mistakes!
Cheers,
David