Meaghan Wilson Anastasios

As is my way, I’m going to tell you a little story. And then I want to ask you a question.

The people and project involved shall remain anonymous to protect the innocent. And the not-so 😇!

So, I was chatting to a friend who works in film and tv the other day (no, to those of you who know him – not my husband). This person had previewed a show that’s yet to be released, but will be with great fanfare fairly soon. Anyway, this person was utterly brutal about what they’d seen.

Now, the Meaghan of old would have most likely joined in the acerbic putdown. But the funny thing is that since I’ve started making creative products that end up in the public domain, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to rip into others’ creative output.

The process of getting something made… a book, a tv series, a film, a song, a work of visual art, a play (the list goes on)… is such a phenomenally grueling experience. It’s the equivalent of undertaking an uphill marathon on a slope covered in treacle… blindfolded…in the rain…while pulling a barrow of bricks behind you. The hurdles along the way stop many, many more creative projects than ever actually end up being seen by an audience of any kind. So those that do see light of day have been through the wringer. The more I see of the coal face, the more I marvel that anything ever gets off the ground at all.

And so, my response is to applaud the makers and celebrate their achievement. Even if what they produce is flawed or imperfect, or just not my cup of tea. There are more than enough well qualified and disinterested critics out there to pass judgement on creative works. I just don’t think I have the stomach for it anymore.

What do you think?

Should I just harden up? Or should we all look out for each other?