There's no one way of understanding furry and I can't see how trying to explain the genre would benefit anyone.
I think there is value to criticism of specific works, in that it may reveal new depths to images which might otherwise be dismissed as "a nice picture", thus increasing viewers' enjoyment of the work.
Such criticism arguably has more value in the cases where the original artist is not around to explain their own intentions. Online galleries provide plenty of space in which they may do so, if they so choose.
(Though I feel interpretations should not be restricted to the artist's intention, even if they give it — and many don't.)
I think there is value to criticism of specific works, in that it may reveal new depths to images which might otherwise be dismissed as "a nice picture", thus increasing viewers' enjoyment of the work.
Such criticism arguably has more value in the cases where the original artist is not around to explain their own intentions. Online galleries provide plenty of space in which they may do so, if they so choose.
(Though I feel interpretations should not be restricted to the artist's intention, even if they give it — and many don't.)