Anna's Manifesto

I once read in an Ernest Hemingway biography that he said he believed critics are like soldiers who walk into the streets after a battle and shoot the wounded. I disagree.

The role of the critic is to be a truthful assessor or works of art. The number of movies, books, CDs, concerts, etc. that are available for public consumption is overwhelming. People rely on critics to provide reasoned, well-researched analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of new works.

While it is true that everyone is a critic to some extent, this does not mean that everyone has the time to write critical reviews. A good review includes background information and well-though-out arguments. The critic has an obligation to do research and become educated about the art form and the history of the specific work they are critiquing.

I mentioned truth earlier and see this as vital to the critic. The critic must be honest about the quality of a work because many consumers base their purchasing decisions on reviews. However, the critic also must be honest in their negative criticism because they owe a fair assessment to the creator.

-Anna Fry