[MR] A&S Judging Question Part Two

[Carolle Cox]

This issue comes up repeatedly in more Kingdoms than one. 

Entrants work hard on a piece (or body of work, heaven forefend), giving it
their very best application of skill and research.  Naturally, they expect
their entry to do at least fairly well.  Or, at the very least, not gather
any gratuitously nasty comments. Many people finally give up and quit
entering because it's not worth the pain of the nasty remarks, or almost
worse yet, no remarks at all from judges.  Right or wrong, people's hearts
get tied up in these projects, and then they get hurt. 

Judges, on the other hand, are volunteers like the folks at Troll or on the
field of battle.  Frequently, they're asked to judge in areas they are not
conversant with, and/or read long sets of documentation on forty different
items in less time than it takes to really read one.  Sometimes, they're
pressed into service literally at the event, and their heads just aren't
quite in it. Personally, I've heard comments from judges who are faced with
entry topics they know literally nothing about - they're not happy.  Most of
them would Like to do a good job of evaluating the entries and leave helpful
critiques.  There just isn't a reasonable way to accomplish it.  In a
perfect world, our work would be judged by someone who has studied the art
forms themselves, and can score the work accurately and then offer positive
and helpful commentary on our efforts. In real life, this is so impossible
as to be almost funny. Think about the number of judges that would be
required, and the depth of experience they'd need to have...

I'm on no one's 'side' here; just trying to achieve a balanced view of the
situation in the artisan world.  If we want to, we can take a clear picture
and use it to improve the system.  If we don't, these posts can degenerate
into some pretty unacceptable comments and name-calling.  I'd rather see the
former than the latter.

In service to the Dream, 
Gerita della Mara


Carolle Cox
Japanese Chin Rescue and Care Volunteer
www.japanesechinrescue.org
Pituitary Disease Support
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PituitaryDiseaseSupport
 
People are like stained glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun
is out, but when darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is
a light from within. -- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
 
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