An artist doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s natural that other people who also see themselves as artists will look at your work critically. If you’re e.g. an engineer, who spent many hours practicing and honing your skills, then you see someone else calling themselves an engineer but you think they don’t deserve the title, you’ll complain (as you should; that’s called “society”). The superficial and childish way he reacted simply confirms the shallowness that the critic pointed out.
As for the critic’s role in all of it, it is clearly necessary. There is a misconception that to be a fan you need to be a rabid fan, but these are just the loudest ones. A normal person who is not an internet warrior and stumbles upon his work deserves to know his honesty is contested, so they can make their own assessment of his true skills.
As for the critic’s role in all of it, it is clearly necessary. There is a misconception that to be a fan you need to be a rabid fan, but these are just the loudest ones. A normal person who is not an internet warrior and stumbles upon his work deserves to know his honesty is contested, so they can make their own assessment of his true skills.