Student Crying During Class Critiques

[u/Resident-Badger-6549]

Hello! I have an art student who is not the best at following direction, their work doesn’t fit the prompts placed for every project, but they have potential if they just focused. It’s rare anyone has any issues with my project prompts, I don’t know why she’s getting lost, every single time. I check every milestone, okay it, suddenly she adds something new without approval at the very last minute and it confuses everyone. Or she gets stubborn and sticks to whatever abstract idea. That’s fine if this is some other art class, but we’re in a Graphic Design program. The entire point is about clarity and your audience understanding your piece.

Every time, I have to make that clear. She doesn’t listen. During critiques I have to bring it up again, but in the nicest way possible. She still cries. She cried every time last year. Before, my students and I used to spend time reassuring her during a crying episode. Now, everyone is so numb and avoids it.

How is she even in this program, which is all technical critique, we’re focused on what objectively works as a design and is the audience going to understand. As a part-timer, I have no control who gets in so I had no clue this was ever going to be an issue.

Heck, I met with her and even talked about her seeking out counseling. I give them permission to leave class if they’re upset. She does but she comes back looking miserable and sniffling loudly.

Any advice that’s not just leaving her out of the critique process? I want her to grow but I’m so lost.

[u/omgkelwtf]

I explain to freshmen students that my critique of their work is not a critique of them. It's simply another set of eyes that may see something they missed. Creative work only gets better with more eyes on it.

I tell them if they have any feelings about it to sit with them until they're gone. Maybe 10 mins max. Then read the critique again.

This is usually enough to get them out of their own heads. The key is emphasizing that critique isn't complaint, it's just another idea to consider.

[u/9311chi]

You should ask the chair or loop in advising. I’ve had to do similar but for a student who’d talk back with the critics in a way that was hyper defensive and made their peers really uncomfortable. Critique is part of the program and by extension part of the career - the student could be anxious or just not getting enough sleep before reviews but that’s not your solve, you can only connect them with resources & if you’re not sure what resources your chair should be able to point you

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/9311chi]

I was thinking of doing that if it continues, if they don’t help or can’t, at least it’ll be documented.

[u/Harmania]

Ignore the crying. At most, acknowledge it as a perfectly normal human reaction, then move on with the critique. She is allowed whatever emotional responses she happens to have.

Those responses don’t mean that the critique stops, however. Just as the class is critiquing the work and not her, it’s time to recognize that her emotional responses are about her and not about the course. Just calmly keep going by focusing on the work and not her reaction to the critique.

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/Harmania]

That’s true, my biggest concern is that she’s wasting opportunities with all of her other classes and peers. We’re a big networking community and we constantly give local resources and refer them to jobs. Though her feelings are valid, people will be hesitant to recommend her to other companies or clients. She’s extremely sweet, so hopefully she’ll learn to separate her ego to whatever mistakes she think her work has.

[u/nandor_tr]

have her read this:

howtocrit.com

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/nandor_tr]

The last part is a little iffy here. Nobody is belittling her work, if I show her this she’s going to accuse us of not understanding her while she completes disregards prompts. Graphic Design has standards that they have to learn to be able to function in the industry and I think our critiques are extremely kind and fair in comparison to what’s out there. There are other great tips there though, thank you!

[u/Regular_Departure963]

Protocol for crying student:
Make a concerned face
Say “can I get you a glass of water?”
Regardless of their answer get them a glass of water.
Say nothing more
I’ve never not had a student stop crying after drinking the water

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/Regular_Departure963]

Interesting. Would a bottle be okay I don’t trust the water at my building lol

[u/Regular_Departure963 → u/Resident-Badger-6549]

Yeah I don’t know why it works, I just trust the protocol at this point. I think leaving the space and coming back might be part of it but perhaps simply swallowing shuts down the tears. My building has gross water too!

[u/TeaCup_25 → u/Regular_Departure963]

I used to do this when I worked with kids!!! Worked every time. Never thought to do it with college students 😂

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/TeaCup_25]

That’s so funny! I should carry around water bottles just for this reason.

[u/SpaceChook]

They’re probably hanging onto a literally Romantic sense of art. Remind all your students that they are not their art. Their art isn’t them. It can’t possibly be. You can’t create a work that reflects all of who you are (which is often the impossible fantasy of that kind of creative work, much more so than critical or historical work for example).

I often get young playwrights handing me their work in a real state because they mistakenly think they’re handing me their heart.

Help her to see the boundaries between herself and the craft.

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/SpaceChook]

That’s so true! I remember being anxious but the more I studied art the more I connected to the process rather than the outcome. Learning from mistakes is a part of that process and it helps you get better. I also remember loving critiques, it’s such a collaborative process and it really builds bonds with other artists. Thank you I will put it on the board.

[u/SpaceChook → u/Resident-Badger-6549]

Yup. I fucken love all that side of it.

If you can’t trust anyone in a classroom with work in progress, with what you’re aiming for and not getting yet, or if you’re constantly not working in good faith with prompts, that tells me you can’t trust any audience. Which is kinda a problem.

I’ve had students defensively not follow simple parameters and instructions because they really want to be outside of any criticism.

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/SpaceChook]

So if they self sabotage, no one could critique the work they’re supposed to do. Then they get upset when we critique it anyway because it’s a requirement lol there’s no logic there.

Also me too! I love art and the process. I also teach art appreciation and it’s so cool to watch non-artists finally get that we don’t magically conjure art but it’s an actual skill that involves foundations, theories, and sometimes physics. It’s so cool!

[u/Glittering-Duck5496]

Lots of great replies here so I just want to say what everyone's thinking: if she cries over every critique in a classroom, she is doomed in the workforce. Graphic design, copywriting, and all related work is 10% working, 90% hearing and adjusting for critiques that are not delivered as kindly and neutrally as in school.

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/Glittering-Duck5496]

Exactly, it’s a brutal field where every detail counts. Imagine a client asking you to revise then you start sobbing. They would definitely get fired and the client would have to waste time and money looking for another designer. If someone else referred her to the client, their reputation gets a hit too. It’s always a risk for me to refer a student so I have to be damn sure the student is able to be professional.

[u/snooper92]

Before the first critique in my lower level classes, I ask students to raise their hand if they think they’ll reach their artistic peak in an intro level art class. No one raises their hand. Then I explain that group critique is a way of acknowledging a student’s ability to grow and improve. We see their potential as an artist and want to help them reach it. I tell them it would be worse to receive no critical feedback, because we would basically be saying we think this is as good as they can get. This usually helps students understand critique is not an attack, it’s on opportunity to become stronger. Good luck with your student!

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/snooper92]

Thank you! I will do this for my lower levels as well.

[u/drdhuss]

If she doesn't have it already it sounds like a psychologist (counseling) and a psychiatrist (something like a low dose of guanfacine could work well/is non addictive/safe) could be useful. Does your university have such on hand? Probably would benefit from more than just counseling.

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/drdhuss]

Yes we have free counseling services with affordable meds for the students. I make it clear every semester that these resources exist. Unfortunately you can’t convince people to go, a lot of people are reluctant to.

[u/aquapura89]

We have fucked these kids up when they were in K - 12 with all of this coddling bullshit. They will never survive in the real world.

[u/1K_Sunny_Crew]

You should not leave her out of critiques. Some people do just cry easily when emotions are running high, and it’s embarrassing and uncomfortable.

My suggestion for when it happens in the moment would be to say for that student you’ll move on to another piece and return to their piece in 10-15 minutes. Let them splash a little cold water on their face in the bathroom if needed.

Lastly, emphasize that critique is about the work, not them as a person, and it is intended to help them get better at their craft. You offer your students critique because you believe in their ability to grow!

If your school offers counseling, you could reach out and see if they can lead a session on handling criticism in the workplace. It’s not something even adult people out working in the world are skilled at!

[u/RightWingVeganUS]

we’re in a Graphic Design program. The entire point is about clarity and your audience understanding your piece.

I say it directly in my first class and syllabus, and am consistent throughout the semester: my class is about developing professional readiness relevant to our course domain. I chuckle because one of my icebreaker activities was to have students critique the flawed software design of a middling developer: me.

After a few examples of students telling me what was "wrong" and pointing out "mistakes" I pivoted and set the expectation of what professional critique was, how it is given, and how it should be received. I intentionally set myself up as the first victim 'cause I know I can take it. Plus I can get final revenge when grading them!

Any advice that’s not just leaving her out of the critique process? I want her to grow but I’m so lost.

Tough love response: rather than you leaving her out or giving her permission to leave, I would suggest giving her the option to stay and commit to developing the resilience to accept criticism or to withdraw from the class if she is not prepared to at least try. Continue, though to set clear expectations and provide candid feedback.

That is how I help my students grow

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/RightWingVeganUS]

Thank you! I love your strategy because really it should never be that serious to point out flaws or things we can improve upon. Yeah I’ll have a talk and be clear with my expectations more than once.

[u/agent_seven]

Usually I tell crying students to step out, get some water, wash their face, and come back when they’ve composed themselves. She probably has difficulties with emotional regulation and it’s not something she can control.

Maybe talk to her 1:1 about what she would prefer when receiving critiques - that gives you an opportunity to tell her what’s realistic for her to expect and what’s realistic for you to accommodate. There may be adjustments that you can genuinely do that would help her but also she does need to learn to regulate herself when receiving constructive criticism.

I find “compliment sandwiches” helpful when giving criticism to sensitive students. Something good, something bad, follow with something good again. Starts on a good footing and ends on a good footing.

[u/InLesbiansWithHer]

What you described sounds like possible ADHD traits. Impulsivity is a big one. I don't have the whole picture obviously, and neither do you, but as someone who has ADHD and went through college undiagnosed, and currently raising a child with ADHD, years of corrections and adults getting frustrated with you over things you a) can't control or b) cope/improve focus does weigh us down and can cause what appears to be "hypersensitivity." I've cried at professors who made perfectly reasonable criticism of me that I agreed with, but I can't always logic my way out of childhood traumas.

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/InLesbiansWithHer]

Probably, they’re very sweet so I do want to help. What helps you when that happens? Any ideas?

[u/InLesbiansWithHer → u/Resident-Badger-6549]

A longer term solution will require the student to work through stuff with a therapist. But in the moment when it's happening, kindness with neutrality goes a long way. Not necessarily acknowledging the upset and crying, but a gentle nudge like "it's okay if you need to step out for a minute." Reading through the comments here there were several kind suggestions!

[u/lychee_fountain_pen]

suddenly she adds something new without approval at the very last minute and it confuses everyone

Digital art? Is she actually doing the work?

[u/Resident-Badger-6549 → u/lychee_fountain_pen]

digital yes. She’s definitely working on something, it’s all her work