Critic
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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- "What is the good of criticism? What is the good? -- A vast and terrible question mark which seizes the critic by the throat from the very first step in the first chapter he sets down to write. ... asks Baudelaire
The word critic comes from the Greek κριτικός, kritikós - one who discerns, which itself arises from the Ancient Greek word κριτής, krités, meaning a person who offers reasoned judgement or analysis, value judgement, interpretation, or observation. The term can be used to describe an adherent of a position disagreeing with or opposing the object of criticism.
Modern critics include professionals or amateurs who regularly judge or interpret performances or other works (such as that of artists, musicians or actors) and, typically, publish their observations, often in periodicals. Critics are numerous in certain fields, including art critics, music critics, film critics, theatre or drama, and cultural critics.
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Appreciative criticism
André Bazin is known as a proponent of appreciative criticism, wherein only critics who like a film can write a review of it, thus encouraging constructive criticism.
The critic dilemma
- For an artist in any field, the entire notion of being judged is daunting. Depending upon a variety of circumstances and one’s personality, it is never easy to be criticized and invariably it is wonderful to be praised. After all we are all human beings with sensitivities. True, as Miles Davis remarked to me, one can make it a practice to ignore all reviews. On the other hand, I recall an interview with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy in which thy responded to the critics who labeled their music angry and negative. (To me, that is incredulous since Trane’s music was among the most spiritual I ever encountered!) And then there is the statement by Gene Lees: “All criticism is self justification!” --David Liebman
Tastemakers
A tastemaker is one that determines or strongly influences current trends or styles, as in fashion or the arts. For a tastemaker to be international, he must be able to reach the world --adapted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Mediated relationships
- If I read a favorable review of my favorite author by a book critic, I'll be likely to trust that critic's judgment in future, and check out books that he recommends. If I like a singer-songwriter, chances are that I'll like the bands that she cites as influences. And so on. --Joshua Ellis in taste tribes.
By field
art criticism - critical theory - cultural criticism - film criticism - literary criticism - music criticism
Related
taste - connoisseur - recommendation - review - judgement
See also
- Art historian
- Connoisseur
- Critique
- Critical theory
- Critical theory (Frankfurt School)
- Critical thinking
- Cultural critic
- Film criticism
- Literary criticism
- Music journalism
- Review
- Social criticism
- Textual criticism
