The role of the critic is to provide a framework for discourse through which the artist and society may measure themselves against the other. An artist will lose his way if he permits that discourse to drive his work -- that is, to assume a posture of *listening* to the masses, because he wishes to please.
As an artist myself, I can tell you frankly that I don't give a shit what you think when I am making something. However, as a human being, I can tell you it is very nice to hear that somebody has dug something you made --
2hp