[MR] What the heck... Why be a judge?

[William Fleming]

On Apr 12, 2007, at 12:31 AM, Terri Morgan wrote:

> I'm tired of reading/deleting messages about background checks. So why 
> not
> re-visit the brough-hahaha just previous to it?
>
> Why should we judge A&S?

<snip> <chop> <hack, spindle and mutilate>

> Hrothny
>

Happy cousin,

Here is my groat's worth.  Although some artists are upset over being 
judged and some artists are wracked with guilt because of the act of 
judging, both these acts (being judged and judging) are a vital part of 
the learning process.  From preschool to doctoral studies, we are 
judged and judge every day we labor at learning but for some reason 
artists loathe having their work critiqued or publicly critiquing the 
work of others.  Perhaps, this is because off the emotional effect of 
the act of creation, because art is more an act of love than an act of 
reason and the artwork more like a child or lover than work of simple 
labor (like a clean dishes or folded laundry) but I think it has more 
to do with a lack of perspective on the nature of artistic 
competitions.

Winning or losing is not the point of the competition.  The competition 
allows the artist to discover faults in their work or their 
understanding by submitting their work to criticism.  I can count on 
one hand the number of times I have won poetry competitions and I have 
insufficient digits on hands and feet to record the number of times my 
poems have been ripped to shreds by judges.  Of course my first 
reaction is anger or disappointment or grief but given time I gain a 
new perspective on my work.  Sometimes my work is inferior but I have 
been too close to it to see the faults; sometimes the judges seem to 
have less knowledge of my art than I do.  Both of these circumstances 
provide me with a benefit.  The first allows me to recognize areas in 
which my effort or skill needs development.  The second teaches me to 
improve my documentation and not to assume knowledge in the judges.

Judging competitions provides an opportunity to teach and to learn.  A 
judge is obligated to share what they know and to give what guidance 
time and the space on the judging form will allow.  Though time and 
space are always inadequate so long as a judge is able to leave contact 
information and allow the competitor to question the critique later the 
judge can fulfill this obligation.  Of course judging has a payoff for 
the judge as well.  All good teachers know that they don't know 
everything and they will admit their ignorance when their knowledge is 
lacking.  Well laid out documentation or after competition conversation 
with the competitors can fill in gaps in a judge's knowledge and 
experience.

Displaying work can bring voluntary comment but competition forces us 
to confront our weaknesses and allows us to revel in our strengths.  So 
compete, judge, and discuss.

Olaugh Ruaidhri an Cu
(poor swordsman, fair poet, and "a really good bard")