criticism

{{Short description|Practice of judging the merits and faults of something}}

{{Distinguish|Critical thinking}}

File:Julio Ruelas - Criticism - Google Art Project.jpg where criticism is depicted as a creature atop his head]]

Criticism is the construction of a judgement about the negative or positive qualities of someone or something. Criticism can range from impromptu comments to a written detailed response.{{cite web |title=Criticism|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/criticism |publisher=Cambridge Dictionary}} | the act of giving your opinion or judgment about the good or bad qualities of something or someone or the act of saying that something or someone is bad Criticism falls into several overlapping types including "theoretical, practical, impressionistic, affective, prescriptive, or descriptive".{{cite web |title=Criticism|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095648600|publisher=Oxford Dictionary}} | "The reasoned discussion of literary works, an activity which may include some or all of the following procedures, in varying proportions: the defence of literature against moralists and censors, classification of a work according to its genre, interpretation of its meaning, analysis of its structure and style, judgement of its worth by comparison with other works, estimation of its likely effect on readers, and the establishment of general principles by which literary works can be evaluated and understood."

Criticism may also refer to an expression of disapproval of someone or something. When criticism of this nature is constructive, it can make an individual aware of gaps in their understanding and it can provide distinct routes for improvement.{{Cite journal|last1=Fong|first1=Carlton J.|last2=Warner|first2=Jayce R.|last3=Williams|first3=Kyle M.|last4=Schallert|first4=Diane L.|last5=Chen|first5=Ling-Hui|last6=Williamson|first6=Zachary H.|last7=Lin|first7=Shengjie|date=July 2016|title=Deconstructing constructive criticism: The nature of academic emotions associated with constructive, positive, and negative feedback|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2016.05.019|journal=Learning and Individual Differences|volume=49|pages=393–399|doi=10.1016/j.lindif.2016.05.019|issn=1041-6080|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last1=Winstone|first1=Naomi E.|last2=Nash|first2=Robert A.|last3=Parker|first3=Michael|last4=Rowntree|first4=James|date=2017-01-02|title=Supporting Learners' Agentic Engagement With Feedback: A Systematic Review and a Taxonomy of Recipience Processes|journal=Educational Psychologist|language=en|volume=52|issue=1|pages=17–37|doi=10.1080/00461520.2016.1207538|issn=0046-1520|doi-access=free|hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30171632|hdl-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last=Shute|first=Valerie J.|date=2008-03-01|title=Focus on Formative Feedback|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0034654307313795|journal=Review of Educational Research|volume=78|pages=153–189|language=en|doi=10.3102/0034654307313795|hdl=20.500.12749/2996|s2cid=145188268|hdl-access=free}} Research supports the notion that using feedback and constructive criticism in the learning process is very influential.{{Cite journal|last1=Kluger|first1=Avraham N.|last2=DeNisi|first2=Angelo|date=March 1996|title=The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.119.2.254|journal=Psychological Bulletin|volume=119|issue=2|pages=254–284|doi=10.1037/0033-2909.119.2.254|issn=1939-1455|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite book|date=2014-06-27|title=The Power of Feedback|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315813875|doi=10.4324/9781315813875|isbn=9781315813875}}{{Cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=Gavin T.L.|last2=Harris|first2=Lois R.|last3=Harnett|first3=Jennifer|date=October 2012|title=Teacher beliefs about feedback within an assessment for learning environment: Endorsement of improved learning over student well-being|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2012.05.003|journal=Teaching and Teacher Education|volume=28|issue=7|pages=968–978|doi=10.1016/j.tate.2012.05.003|issn=0742-051X|url-access=subscription}}

Critique vs. criticism: In French, German, or Italian, no distinction is drawn between 'critique' and 'criticism'. The two words both translate as critique, Kritik, and critica, respectively.Gianni Vattimo [https://books.google.com/books?id=i7QOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA57 Postmodern criticism: postmodern critique] in David Wood (1990) Writing the future, pp. 57–58 In the English language, philosopher Gianni Vattimo suggests that criticism is used more frequently to denote literary criticism or art criticism while critique refers to more general writing such as Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Another distinction that is sometimes made is that critique is never personalized nor ad hominem and is presented in a way that encourages rebuttal or expansion of the ideas expressed. Nonetheless, the distinctions are subtle and ambiguous at best.

The term "brickbat" is sometimes used to mean "an unfavourable criticism, unkind remark or sharp put-down". The term originated in the 17th century, derived from the practice of throwing bricks as projectiles at a person who was disapproved of.{{cite web | title=Shashi Tharoor's Word Of The Week: Brickbat|first=Shashi |last=Tharoor | website=Hindustan Times | date=7 February 2020 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/shashi-tharoor-s-word-of-the-week-brickbat/story-1y8pKf15BvfAvyvXSbDPkO.html |author-link=Shashi Tharoor| access-date=16 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=brickbat |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/brickbat |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=10 February 2022}}

In some contexts, such as literary criticism and art criticism, the word criticism is used as a neutral word that is synonymous with evaluation. {{cite web|url=https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/31/criticism/|title=Common Errors in English Usage: criticism|date=May 31, 2016}}