Hope nobody minds starting a new thread RE reviews.
I think reviews can reflect the same educational, casual, open-forum nature of the gallery. If someone simply wants to award gold stars 'cause they like the picture that's fine. Nobody should get angry if a reviewer just doesn't "get" their picture or points out what they think are flaws. On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong with replying if it's in the spirit of clarification. There are too few opportunities to answer our critics.
Doing reviews should ideally improve one's understanding of pictures. Reading about how to criticize art is important to those doing art I think. There are basics the same as there are to making a picture
"Critical judgements are different from preferences. Preferences do not require reasons and preferences are rarely disputed. Critical judgements, however, do require reasons and do invite counterargument because their consequences are important. Also, statements of preference tell us more about the person making the statements than the object in question."
Terry Barrett, "Criticizing Photographs" P.121
AZ
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