Critique Is Creative: The Critical Response Process® in Theory and Action

by Liz Lerman, John Borstel

A thorough introduction and lively exploration of a widely recognized method for giving and getting useful feedback

Devised by choreographer Liz Lerman in 1990, Critical Response Process® (CRP) is an internationally recognized method for giving and getting feedback on creative works in progress. In this first in-depth study of CRP, Lerman and her long-term collaborator John Borstel describe in detail the four-step process, its origins and principles. The book also includes essays on CRP from a wide range of contributors. With insight, ingenuity, and the occasional challenge, these practitioners shed light on the applications and variations of CRP in the contexts of art, education, and community life. Critique Is Creative examines the challenges we face in an era of reckoning and how CRP can aid in change-making of various kinds.

With contributions
Bimbola Akinbola, Mark Callahan, Lawrence Edelson, Isaac Gómez, Rachel Miller Jacobs, Lekelia Jenkins, Elizabeth Johnson Levine, Carlos Lopez-Real, Cristóbal Martínez, Gesel Mason, Cassie Meador, Kevin Ormsby, CJay Philip, Kathryn Prince, Sean Riley, Charles C. Smith, Shula Strassfeld, Phil Stoesz, Gerda van Zelm, Jill Waterhouse, Rebekah West

Genres: Nonfiction

266 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2022

Reviews

[Phobean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still chewing on this one, and will probably read some chapters over. I'm not surprised it took me a year to read this how-to and collection of essays; I'm glad I did. Although some of the essays are VERY academic, and I ended up kind of sleep-reading them on my morning subway commute, there's a lot of richness here. My values and those of the authors are well matched.

Between Critique is Creative and the Anti-Racist Writing Workshop, (which inspired me to finally read CiC, although I've encountered aspects of it numerous times, including a "cake" practice session), I can say my creative-critique practice has been revolutionized. I was headed in that direction anyway, but these two books pushed me over the edge. Finally, I want to add that Liz Lerman's voice comes through vividly in this book, and hers feels the brightest. If I'm ever lucky enough to meet her, I'll thank her profusely for developing this approach, and for modeling being open to critique and change herself.

[Antu]

Really interesting approach towards feedback. Wish there were some worksheets!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be how critique is taught everywhere.

[Sumana Mandala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the origin story is given by Liz Lerman and John Borstel, the originators, along with their transparency as they continue to evolve CRP with every experience or encounter continuously for at least 4 decades. The essays by practitioners in such a variety of fields (arts, theater, racial justice, organizational development, etc.) demonstrates how CRP is a tool that is there to be activated by its users to make it meaningful in any situation. And it is so apt that the book is a Silver Nautilus Award recipient in the Creativity and Innovation category.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m getting this five stars because I got to test the method out in an actual poetry workshop last night- one of the most lovely and productive workshops I’ve ever been to. I love that this method is artist led, gentle, and has applications for real-life in sharing feedback and asking for clarity. Beautiful.