How to prove the reviewer wrong
Very plainly speaking, a review is a personal assessment of a subject, incident, or event by a biased observer. Reviews come in a few different forms. Sometimes it seems, we confuse them and mistake one for the other.
In life, we meet with reviews daily, and we give reviews out freely. Most are silent or personal such as our wisecrack about the driver in front of us who cut us off, or our assessment of someone’s attire that we think is laughable. Not all our reviews are harsh, but certainly, these reviews are not intended to be heard by the person who is the object of our review.
Imagine though if our private thoughts were announced to the community. I think these unrequested assessments could indeed wound and be met with an intense response. If the nasty comments from the other driver were aimed at you, you would probably feel hurt, your pride being scorched - your blood would boil.
Then there's another kind of review - the welcomed review. This assessment given by a professional critic or invited observer is intended to inform others and provide feedback to the reviewed. It's not intended to harm the subject, and it's usually thought out, well composed, and based on a fair amount of experience and insight. Even the best review can have shards of uncomfortable truth in it.
Having put your heart and soul into your work, you have every right to hope that the critic will pay attention and like what they see. Hoping for this is reasonable, expecting it is not.
The review of Narnia by the performing arts critic of this paper was somewhat shocking in the context of the "kid glove" reviews of the past. Rightly so, this newspaper has a policy against reviewing children's performances in an adult context. I assume it's to avoid aiming a review at someone who didn't ask for it. Someone who could not grow from it or appreciate its potential.
Receiving no review is a part of the life of a performer, young or old. Receiving a negative review is a much more challenging part of that life. The shame one feels is real, and is amplified when broadcast to the community at large. To use the review to your own benefit, you have to set out to prove the reviewer wrong. The worse the review, the greater the challenge, and in challenge comes the opportunity for real growth. These kids have nothing to be ashamed of in receiving any kind of review. They have been challenged to excel - to rise up. It is time to prove the reviewer wrong not by harsh words, but by accomplishments.
As parents, we ache to shelter our children from malicious mischief, adult themes, and violence. Slowly, gradually, as they mature, we allow them to bump up against the harder, darker, and more complex parts of life. We want protect our kids and support their growth at the same time and in doing so, may shelter them to their detriment.
Once you've felt the sting of a review, you have been gifted in a singular way. Your mettle is tested, your determination is called upon, and your desire to rise up to the challenges you face has been called forth. There's work to be done, and accomplishments to achieve. Let's listen well to the critics, and prove them wrong when necessary. What you do in response can define your life.
