Critics of the Round Table

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jarz6DvTLmU
http://www.wbez.org/blogs/jim-derogatis/2013-04/we-don%E2%80%99t-need-no-stinkin%E2%80%99-critics%E2%80%A6-or-do-we-106783

There are many challenges that critics today face. In a world where just about everyone's a critic, how does the professional make his or her words heard among a sea of garbage? Well, with the help of a few veterans, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel.

Critics Donna Seaman, Don Hall, Sarah Zupko, Andrew Barber,  LaShawn Williams,Jim “Tankboy” Kopeny, Duncan MacKenzie, Richard Holland, Drew Hunt, and Leah Pickett join forces to shed some light on the world of criticism and the daily challenges they face as reviewers. “A critic can tell whether a movie or something will meet everyone’s needs” Sarah Zupko, editor of the Chicago-based “Pop Matters,” said. “It’s important to move beyond yourself, it’s not just your opinion,” Zupko continues. Which is an excellent point because the writer should always be aware of the audience. As Roger Ebert writes in his “Little Rule Book”: “advise the readers well.” In addition to telling readers what we love or hate, we need provide insight into the experience of the art, whether that be some history on the subject or a sensory rich description of the piece.

We are constantly surrounded by marketing and media. There isn’t one thing that it hasn’t touched. Donna Seaman warns against conflicts of interest and blurred lines. The topic of Pitchfork comes up when panelists discuss conflicts of interest. They also can’t come to a consensus on Pitchfork hosting music festivals with the artists that they review. Seaman calls this a “gray area” and another panelist says that the festival is what keeps the Pitchfork going. Jim DeRogatis, along with several other panelists have very strong opinions about the subject, commenting on the fact that this may compromise the integrity of Pitchfork. Again, this seems to break another one of Ebert’s rules when he writes “no commercial endorsements.” When the writers of Pitchfork review the artists who later appear at their festival it gives off the same vibe as “payola”. Unfortunately by doing this, not only does it cheapen the publication, it cheapens the art. 

Finally, Leah Pickett brings up an excellent point when it comes to criticism and writing negative and positive reviews. “When you go into something you go because you love it,” Pickett says “you want it to be good.” She discusses how important it is to go to something with no preconceived notions at all, so when it is bad, you are truly let down. Who knows? maybe you’ll be there for Britney Spears’s “King of Carrot Flowers” and you’ll be able to write about it. Even without preconceived it isn’t always going to be easy to write a review. One panelist recounts seeing a movie that was so mediocre that it was nearly tormenting. “It’s literally nothing, it’s not even bad, bad is so much better than something that exists on a screen.”