Umbrae said:
On the other hand…
In this industry – honest reviews are eschewed.
Other industries embrace honest reviews, movies, books, restaurants…art...
But the New Age industry?
Nope.
EVEN IF I personally dislike the artwork – I cannot share that opinion, my review will not get published.
EVEN IF I find the approach lacking - I cannot share that opinion, my review will not get published.
EVEN IF I find the deck or book or whatever a complete waste… I cannot share that opinion, my review will not get published.
There is artwork that some of us find horrid – but even as a group, we are not allowed to speak honestly…for fear of hurting the poor artist's feelings.
Just because an ‘artist’ created it – does not make it ‘great art’. There have been a few books published in the last few years that were a complete waste of forest land – and nary the honest review.
…and although I may disagree with the ‘reviewer’s opinion’ in this instance – I must defend his right to share his opinion.
...as I must defend the artist's right to produce bad art.
- and if you ask, I'l call it like I see it.
As I said, he certainly is entitled to his opinion. And I'm used to honesty- I used to be in theatre! So I agree with you, Umbrae. I did take the review off the Transparent Tarot facebook page. Well, of course I did! It's supposed to be promoting the deck. It is after all, my first major publication- what's wrong with me wanting to show it in the best light possible and get as much exposure for it as I can?
His point is that I asked him to feature the deck on his page- yes, I was blatantly marketing in a spare few minutes pootling about online and seeing what sites google brought up that were related to Tarot. I should have thought more carefully about who I was approaching. That was a mistake.
I did not ask him, or anyone else to 'review' the deck, though opinions on what has been on show online are welcome. It can't be a proper review unless someone has the product in hand, surely? He took the opportunity to have a go and be as negative as possible.
Well, the deck will be out there soon, and no doubt there will be negative reviews mixed in amongst the positive. In many ways he's done me a favour in showing me the worst possible, (gotta love the 'my friends think you're an idiot' comment- very mature!), for I feel steeled and prepared. And I definitely have seen the funny side through all of this!
The avoidance of negative opinions in the new age world is about sensitivity to the feelings of others and courtesy and respect. I have given a couple of honest opinions, (mostly when I'm disgruntled about another misrepresentation of Faery in Tarot being published, and the occasional cry out against a certain D.V.), but I would hope I've never intentionally offended anyone.
As to 'bad art', that is always a matter of opinion...art is enormously subjective. I have learnt that there will always be someone who doesn't like your work. You just have to treat it like water off a duck's back and move on.
Where he gets the idea I don't know anything about Tarot from, I don't know. I've been reading, studying and collecting Tarot for fourteen years now. It is that experience that I filtered into the simplified images for the T.T.
I don't think that my deck should take over the world, invade poland, or replace the Thoth, (which I love, and use a lot, actually). The traditional decks will still be there! But I do think there's room in the Tarot world for everyone. And unlike JK, I do think Tarot should be for everyone, not for some occult elite who feel that Tarot is far too complicated for the likes of us.
Blessings to all,
Em xx