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Critical Response Process

This document outlines a 4-step feedback framework for writers at the Brooklyn Trans Writers Workshop: 1. Responders provide statements about what was meaningful in the work without opinions. 2. Artists ask questions and responders answer without "fix-its". 3. Responders ask neutral questions and artists respond to understand artistic values. 4. With permission, responders state opinions and artists decide whether to hear them. The goal is to help artists improve without imposing solutions.

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Tom Léger
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660 views4 pages

Critical Response Process

This document outlines a 4-step feedback framework for writers at the Brooklyn Trans Writers Workshop: 1. Responders provide statements about what was meaningful in the work without opinions. 2. Artists ask questions and responders answer without "fix-its". 3. Responders ask neutral questions and artists respond to understand artistic values. 4. With permission, responders state opinions and artists decide whether to hear them. The goal is to help artists improve without imposing solutions.

Uploaded by

Tom Léger
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BrooklynTransWritersWorkshopFeedbackFramework

AdaptedfromLizLermansCriticalResponseProcess

Paperbackavailable:LizLerman'scriticalresponseprocess:Amethodforgettingusefulfeedbackon
anythingyoumake,fromdancetodessert/byLizLermanandJohnBorstel,ISBN:9780972738507

NB:Artists(oradesignatedrecorder)shouldtakecopiousnotesduringthediscussion
toaidinthewritingofanyreflectionsandthefurtheringofthedevelopmentoftheir
craft.

STEP1.StatementsofMeaning:Respondersstatewhatwasmeaningful,stimulating,
surprising,evocative,memorable,interesting,exciting,striking,touching,challenging,
compelling,delightful,different,anduniqueintheworktheyhavejustwitnessed.

Philosophy:theCriticalResponseProcessbeginswiththephilosophythatmeaningis
attheheartofanartistswork,andtostartwithmeaningistobeginwiththeessenceofthe
artisticact.LizLerman

Tips:
Avoidstatingopinions(thoughitisoftendifficulttoavoidthis).
Bespecific.
Avoidusingthewordlikebutkeepitpositive.
Nothingistoosmalltonotice.

Examples:
Ifoundthepacingoftheplaytobeexciting.
Ifoundcharacterinteractionsevocative.
Ifoundthestagepicturescompelling.
Ifoundtheconceptofthescenicdesigntobestimulating.
Ifoundthesounddesignchallenging,yetmemorable.

Asktheartistsiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP2.ArtistasQuestioner:Theartistasksquestionsaboutthework.Aftereach
question,therespondersanswer.Respondersmayexpressopinionsiftheyareindirect
responsetothequestionaskedanddonotcontainsuggestionsforchanges(alsocalled
FixIts).

Philosophy:Byhavingtheartistsaskquestionsfirstabouttheintentoftheirwork,the
respondentswillbebetterabletoframethediscussionsaroundtheneedsoftheartists.
Thesequestionsareaskedbecausetheywanttoknow.

Tips:
Giveartistsexamplesofpossiblequestions.
ArtistQuestionscanbegeneralorspecific.
Artistsshouldavoidaskingifsomethingwasliked.
Feelfreetohelptheartistsfinessetheirquestions.
Artistsshouldaskopenendedquestionsaboutspecificthings.

Examples:
Howdidyouexperienceourtransitionsfromonecharactertoanother?
Weworkedparticularlyhardonthewayweexpressedcharacterobjectivethroughoutthe
play.Whatdidyouthinkoftheclarityofthecharactersjourneys?
Wechosethecolorsofthecostumedesignforveryspecificreasons.Whatwasyour
interpretationofthosechoices?
Couldyoucommentonyourabilitytohearandunderstandusonstage?
Wehadthechallengeofcuttingdownathreehourplayto90minutes.Howeffectivedo
youthinkourcuttingoftheplaywas?

Askiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP3.NeutralQuestions:Respondersaskneutralquestionsaboutthework.Theartist
responds.Questionsareneutralwhentheydonothaveanopinioncouchedinthem.For
example,ifyouarediscussingthelightingofascene,Whywasitsodark?isnotaneutral
question.Whatideasguidedyourchoicesaboutlighting?is.

Philosophy:Formanypeople,forminganeutralquestionisnotonlydifficult,buta
seeminglyridiculoustaskifcriticismisthepointOftenthesearetheveryquestionsthat
theartistneedstohear.LizLerman

Tips:
Practicecreatingquestionsfromyouropiniontobesureyouropinionisnotevident.
Thisstepisaboutunderstandingtheartisticvaluesoftheartists.
Artistswilllearnmorethroughadiscussionthanthroughalecture.
Avoidquestionsthatmightcausedefensiveness.
Askquestionsthatencouragereflection.

Examples:
Ifyouweregivenanotherweekofrehearsal,whatwouldyouworkon?
Whatlessondoyouwantyouraudiencetowalkawaywith?
Whatdidyoudoinrehearsaltodevelopyourcharacter?
Howwasthediscussionfacilitatedtounifyyourdesignelements?
Whatguidedyourdecisionsabouthairstyles?

Askiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP4.PermissionedOpinionTime:Respondersstateopinions,subjecttopermission
fromtheartist.TheusualformisIhaveanopinionabout______wouldyouliketohearit?
Theartisthastheoptiontodeclineopinionsforanyreason.
Philosophy:formingtheinitialstatementoffersamentalwarmupforstatingthe
opinionitself.Fortheartists,itaffordsachancetoreadjusttheirfocustobecomereceptive
toanewidea.LizLerman

Tips:
Alwaysaskpermissionaboutsomethingspecificandwaitforyes/no.
Honortheanswer.
DObecritical.Everyonehasroomtogrow.
Tempercriticalfeedback,pillowedwithsomethingpositive.
Avoidgushingpositivepraise.
OffertheopinionwithoutaFixIt,ortellingthemhowtodoit.
Allowtheartisttofindthesolutionsoownershipremainswiththem.

Examples:
Ihaveanopinionaboutthepacingbetweenthetwoacts.Wouldyouliketohearit?
Ihaveanopinionaboutthespecialeffectlightingchoiceattheendofactone.Wouldyou
liketohearit?
Ihaveanopinionaboutyourchoicetohaveliveinstrumentationonstage.Wouldyoulike
tohearit?
Ihaveanopinionabouttheexpressionofcharacterizationamongtheminorroles.Would
youliketohearit?

Askiftherewasanythingnotaddressedinthisstep.

STEP5.FollowUpandFollowThrough:Artiststhensharewiththeresponderswhat
theirnextstepsareinthedevelopmentoftheirwork.Ifthisisafinalperformance,theycan
shareareflectionofwhattheywillbesuretofocusonwiththeirnextproject.
Philosophy:Theatreisalivingart,whereweasartistsgrowwitheverynewexperience.To
maximizethisbenefit,statingfuturegoalsguideusonthatjourney.
Basedonwhatyouveexperiencedinthisconversation,whatgoalsdoyouhavefor
yourselfinworkingonfutureprojects?
Thankallparticipantsinvolvedintheprocess.

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