Attention Critics: We Still Need You!

Por: nathalie | |

Whether scrawled across a page, splattered on a canvas, or arranged neatly on a dinner plate, art- in all of its manifestations- sparks a unique dialogue between artists and audiences. In fact, oftentimes, the audience's reaction defines a piece of art more than the specific artist's intent or expression. A well crafted work should invoke emotions and memories from both artist and viewer- allowing such emotions and memories to spill out intimately and honestly like secrets at a slumber party. Yet, sometimes, these secrets are hard to coax out, sometimes they lay dormant and hidden, anticipating discovery and acceptance. A critic is a coaxer, carefully and gently extricating the secret whispers of a piece of art so that a diner, viewer or reader can appreciate that work wholly and completely.

Therefore the critic is an essential part of this dialogue between artists and audiences. By providing elevated and educated insight into art, critics facilitate the discussion and allow audiences to discern the strengths and weaknesses of a particular artist's work. And although the role of the critic is evolving, the necessity of critics themselves is not in question. In a comment-board world audiences can now speak directly to critics, even critiquing professional critiques. But whether audiences agree or disagree with a particular critic's opinions, at least they're talking. At least that audience can learn something, anything, from that criticism and use that perspective in which critic's conceptualize art, to better consider the work. Therefore, in that unique sense, critics keep art relevant. Critics keep movies, books and music in the forefront of the social discussion, whether that discussion is positive or negative. Without critics, we, as an audience, would have no set standard (regardless of the subjectivity of that standard) to judge art. We could lose that candid and open dialogue with artists that is so precious, not because it simply expands the art itself, but also because it expands our views about our own lives.