Vyvyan Basterd
Adventurer
When criticizing someone's art, is it really that different from criticizing them? Entwined in criticizing the art is criticizing their artistic vision, their personal preferences, their qualities of judgment. I can see how it would be taken to be incredibly personal. Perhaps not as personal as complaining that Lucas is a man with no neck or that, perhaps, Picasso was an asshat in his personal behavior, but it is stuff that gets at the core of who the artist is.
The terrible pieces of art Lucas foisted off on the public in the name of Star Wars deserve the criticism they get. I found them terribly disappointing on the whole with very few bright spots (the light saber fight between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Darth Maul being one of them). That wouldn't stop me from mingling with Lucas at a cocktail party or playing cards with him. It's not personal in that sense, but I do question his artistic vision and that is personal.
Yes, but would you call him a 'terrible person'? Probably not, since you say you'd hang out with him. I've read and heard people proclaim that he should die for what he did to Star Wars. Die?! How many of these can one human being listen to and not feel bad about it.
I have multiple criticisms for his work on the prequels and the changes he made to the originals. But I think too many people go too far and cross the fine line between criticizing his work and attacking him as a person. Many people will tell me I'm wrong and that he should expect that, but I can still rail against this lack of civility that permeates our society.