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May 31, 2005
Excellent criticism involves contextualizing
Theater writer Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, the Official Daily of the National Film Critics' Association, contemplates the strangling of criticism: "To a great many artists, the emasculation of the critic is something to be cheered. At a recent panel at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival... the managing director of the Arena Stage in Washington,told attendees that regional theaters should concentrate on "reducing the influence" of the local critic. This could be done, he implied, by creating a community of audience members and subscribers who trusted their arts organization -- and each other -- so much that the view of "that one guy" would mean little or nothing to them. This, Shields said, was the only way a theater could create a climate conducive to artistic risk-taking... That's a very healthy idea -- contrary to popular opinion, most critics don't crave exclusivity. But user reviews are just that -- user reviews. Excellent criticism involves contextualizing... There's no diminishment in the public appetite for explanation -- the cultural world out there only gets ever more bewildering."
Posted by at May 31, 2005 06:40 AM
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