With the season about to kick-off (if not already), we will no doubt be reading a lot of reviews. I thought I would share this quote (borrowed from the movie ratatouille - still relevant in a musical context).
"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the new needs friends."
no offence meant to any individual in this forum:-)
Ramnath
critics & reviews
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rajaglan
- Posts: 709
- Joined: 29 Dec 2006, 21:34
well said.
But a genuiene critics job is not easy. Especially when I see cartoonist Mathan and Suhasini while reviewing
tamil movie in TV channels. It is avery fine balancing act and reputation is important. After the first year
episodes of Mathan in Vijay TV, all the cine artists gave him a party (again telecast) to celebrate a positive
criticism.
But a genuiene critics job is not easy. Especially when I see cartoonist Mathan and Suhasini while reviewing
tamil movie in TV channels. It is avery fine balancing act and reputation is important. After the first year
episodes of Mathan in Vijay TV, all the cine artists gave him a party (again telecast) to celebrate a positive
criticism.
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ragam-talam
- Posts: 1896
- Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 02:15
While I'm sure there's general agreement that a critic shouldn't exploit the power of his pen to be unduly harsh on an artiste, at the same time we should also be wary of so-called 'critics' who shower fulsome praise, perhaps even to promote an artiste!
Both ends of the spectrum are unwarranted and to be avoided.
Both ends of the spectrum are unwarranted and to be avoided.
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vasanthakokilam
- Posts: 10958
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01
Good topic, and a timely one, Ramnath.
As rasikas, we should be alert enough and sensitive enough to treat the reviews for what they are: "Snapshot impressions of that single event". Opinions by different reviewers and from different concerts need to be taken into account to compensate for any reviewer bias or single instance bias.
I tend to think that the postings here are more "Opinions" than Reviews. That makes it more interesting to read than the sterile 'objective' ones. We also see that over time, frequent posters try to formalize their approach to writing to maintain a level of consistency.
As rasikas, we should be alert enough and sensitive enough to treat the reviews for what they are: "Snapshot impressions of that single event". Opinions by different reviewers and from different concerts need to be taken into account to compensate for any reviewer bias or single instance bias.
I tend to think that the postings here are more "Opinions" than Reviews. That makes it more interesting to read than the sterile 'objective' ones. We also see that over time, frequent posters try to formalize their approach to writing to maintain a level of consistency.
Lot less pressure that way!