Authors’ Manifestos

Kate Ross

Now more than ever, insightful cultural critiques are a vital part of a progressive society. The role of the critic has evolved since the birth of social media, but it is no less important than it was 50 years ago. All someone needs to become a successful critic is a concise voice and a strong opinion. I am not here to tell people what or how to think, but to offer a new way of thinking about how we judge the content that we ingest. I can no longer judge art based on originality when we live in a world where everything to be said has already been said and everything to create has already been created. We live in a refurbished world, where everything create can be infinitely reimagined and transformed. I appreciate art and content that pays homage to its origins. For example, I thoroughly enjoy when I can trace the inspiration of a movie to a specific poem or character from a book. The creations that have come before us have paved a path of imagination for our generation, and we will do that for the generation that follows us. The role of the critic in the digital age is to be able to connect these paths and share them with our readers. 

Southern Britt

The role of the critic- what an innate yet complex title. The role of the critic requires one to observe the arts and make judgments or even a stance for or against that art, something we as humans have done naturally since we were toddlers. However, the complexity lies in the acknowledgment of biases (either because of one’s upbringings or surroundings) in hopes that one’s own critique can go beyond one’s preferences and help the critic’s audience look at art in a new way. Notably, this class has taught me the burden of the critic. Prior to this class, I assumed the role of the critic embodied both an arrogance and an attacker; that the critic could just eat or drink or watch at leisure before fuming out harsh critiques. But to my satisfaction, I learned from one of the wisest critics in the business, Professor Valerie Boyd, that to be a critic means to embody appreciation, humility, and insight. In an ever changing world, and especially amid a pandemic, it is more important now than ever for each of us to recognize our own inner-critic. To push ourselves to use our own unique voices from our local restaurants and movie theatres to our own kitchens and computer screens. Moreso, the beauty of a critic in today’s new age of social media and social distancing does not necessarily mean leaving the comfortability of our couch or one’s neighborhood garden; however, it does mean pushing oneself past the comfortability of any former unimaginative or limited thinking. 

The role of a critic requires selfless judgements, for example: tasting the signature dish though I may not jump at the idea of a tomato base, calling out a director for the lack of a diverse cast though I may resonate with the white female lead, or listening to hard core rap without prior biases that I dislike that particular genre’s culture. By letting go of limited thinking, I open a door of gratitude that will encourage my audience to let go of any discriminatory thinking. By acknowledging the soundtrack that surrounds my life because of my past experiences, I further appreciate my preferences while also validating other possible partialities. To be clear, the role of the critic does not require forgetting one’s own predilection or foregoing negative feedback; on the contrary, by appreciating others’ diverse tastes  while acknowledging my own complexities and predisposition… that is how I best strengthen my voice as a critic. 

Overall, this class reminded me of the very first critic I met… Anton Ego from Disney’s Ratatouille. In the end, Ego debunked the idea of a villain critique and pointed to the risk and reward of a critic by acknowledging his own past biases and pushing himself to appreciate the new. I leave this course with a craving for new, a confidence in my voice, and a long to seek to understand — this is the role of a critic. 

William Newlin

People review things every day. Whether they trounce their local IHOP on Yelp for rubbery eggs or tell their friends the new Michael Bay movie has too much depth and not enough explosions (character development isn’t quite in his wheelhouse), they’re doing the work of a critic. And I’d argue that the average, unsatisfied Josephina will probably employ more colorful language than that found in your local print review. So then, what distinguishes professional criticism from the rest of us opinionated movie/music/food lovers?

Well for one, professionals go deeper. Yes, I’m sure your YouTube unboxing/muckbang/review was illuminating, but the pros have a responsibility to do more. They report on the chef or director or musician. They bring in context about trends and histories to situate their opinion within our broader culture. It’s still one person’s opinion, but it generates discussion beyond just “The dialogue in this was moving” or “Froyo? More like Fro-no.” The ensemble of professional critics acts as a barometer of where we are as a society of creators and artists.

You can hate that, of course. You can point to the difference between the critics’ and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes as say, “What the hell do they know? That movie was a bop, and we all know it.” That’s fine. Everyone will have their own take. But critics point out the good, the bad and the ugly in our cultural institutions. They help spur our collective conversation and point out where we’re advancing and where we’ve stalled. Critics keep people honest. They keep people innovating. They keep the wheel turning.

Despite the plethora of opinions that confront us every day, this role of the critic will continue. There’s something about the authority of professional criticism that will always hold a special weight.

Takunda Mafundikwa