My poetry professor told my fellow classmate that his poem was "crap", how out of line was that?!?

Question

He went up to him after class for an honest opinion. I don't care how bad it may or may not have been, I don't think he had the right to use such negative language on a poem that fulfilled all the technical requirements. Do you agree?

Answer 1

He may have been having a bad day on top of recognizing that your classmate is capable of much better.

Technically, a 1974 Toyota Corolla fulfills the requirements for basic transportation and fuel economy but that car is definitely a piece of crap.

Answer 2

During class, that would have been not nice at all. After class, though, your friend deserved an honest opinion. I hope your friend asked your professor to define "crap" -- was it lacking in emotion? Was it intellectually skewed? Did it just not rub the professor the right way? That way, your friend can tell if it was just your professor's feeling, or if it was a professional opinion.

How did your friend feel about the poem?

The thing is, people in creative endeavors have to learn to take "crap" as a critique. Sometimes the critique itself is crap. Many famous artists have overcome having their art labeled as "infantile," "impressionistic" "total s***" etc. and yet have become icons in culture.

Your friend should listen seriously to what your professor has to say, but "crap" is very subjective. S/he should make the professor give a more concrete evaluation. And, it's easy for the ears to turn off after hearing "crap" -- if the prof gave a more concrete evaluation, it's OK to go back and say please give me the critique again -- and take notes.

Oh, and your friend should follow her gut. If she thinks it's right -- even though that professor says it's awful (even if her *friends* say it's awful) she might still be right. Just ahead of her time.

Answer 3

His professor definitely had no right to do that. If it fulfilled the requirements, the poem obviously had a structure, so of course it wouldn't be "crap." And even if it didn't, no one should be saying that about a work of art that a person has put a lot of effort into.

Answer 4

I think that if his professor really didn't care for the poem and could find some specific reason for his disliking it, he should have used these specifics to tell your friend. To tell him that his poetry was crap was humiliating and may cause your friend to give up his dream of writing poetry.
I don't care if the professor had a bad day or night or anything else. He shouldn't have spoken to your friend like that. He sounds like a jerk.

Answer 5

Completely out of line. In college nearly every poem read aloud by the author, whether slurred into the microphone at the campus coffee shop or stammered nervously at a group of bored classmates, is crap.

Answer 6

I'm totally appalled. That seems COMPLETELY out of line to me. There is such a thing as "constructive criticism" and he of all people should know that!

Answer 7

Way out of line! I was taught, in my creative writing classes, to always find something positive about another person's work, and to criticize intelligently.

Answer 8

Yep, it takes a long time when you have to go to your profile page and look at the avatars, then read their Qs to figure out who's who. A fun and lengthy read.

Answer 9

Nope, I have been told my work was crap and I tell the people I teach truthfully that it was crap, and I know what "last minute out of your butt" work looks like and if it is crappy work, i let them know. I am not paid to be tactful, i m paid to educate

Answer 10

I think it was very out of line. However your classmate shouldn't as questions he isn't ready to hear the answer to. aka if i ask "does this dress make me look fat?" i better be prepared to hear "yes".