Music Critics:

July 08, 2005

Biting Back At Toothless Critics

Why the thumbs up/down review has damaged critics' power to set agendas. ArtsJournal 03/14/01

Posted by mclennan at July 8, 2005 11:42 AM

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About...

What we're talking about
Is there a fundamental difference in the ways music critics see their roles? Are European classical music critics different from American critics? Are there different expectations of London critics than New York critics? Between critics in the “second cities” of America and those of Europe? Consequently... more

Who's talking
Our invited critics include: from the UK: Hugh Canning (Sunday Times), Norman Lebrecht (Evening Standard), Fiona Maddocks (Evening Standard); from Canada: Colin Eatock (freelance), Robert Everett-Green (The Globe & Mail); from Australia: Peter McCallum (Sydney Morning Herald); from the USA: Willa Conrad (Newark Star-Ledger), Andrew Druckenbrod (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Lawrence Johnson (South Florida Sun-Sentinel), Joshua Kosman (San Francisco Chronicle), Allan Kozinn (The New York Times), Anne Midgette (The New York Times), Tim Page (Washington Post), Donald Rosenberg (The Plain Dealer), Tim Smith (Baltimore Sun), David Patrick Stearns (Philadelphia Inquirer)

How this blog works
We’ve asked 15 critics from the US, UK, Canada and Australia to face off in a discussion about how they do their jobs. The conversation will last from Monday, July 18-Friday July 22, 2005. The blog is a lead-up to this year's Aspen Music Festival Critics' Symposium, where Tim Page, Willa Conrad, Greg Sandow and Anne Midgette will be taking part in public panels. Reader comments to the blog... more

Aspen Music Critics Event
At the end of this blog (July 22-24), a group of four music critics gather at the Aspen Music Festival for a weekend of discussion. AMFS logo.GIF

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Archive 36 entries and counting

Our Critics

Canada
  Colin Eatock, freelance

  Robert Everett-Green, The Globe &    Mail
  Who Cares If They Read?

US
  Willa Conrad, Newark Star-Ledger
  More on newspapers underwriting the arts
  Another way to look at the American style

  Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh    Post-Gazette
   Where did I put that periwig?

  Lawrence A. Johnson, The Sun-   Sentinel (Florida)
  The Critic's Role(s)

  Joshua Kosman, San Francisco    Chronicle
   One Voice Per Beat

  Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
  Reporting and Ink Measurement
  Critics and Reporters and Being Played Like a Fiddle
  Observations about the observations
  One view from New York

  Anne Midgette, The New York Times

  Tim Page, Washington Post

  Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer
  Touting Two Tims
  Geographical differences?

  Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun

  David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia    Inquirer

Resources

Lebrecht: Why American Arts Journalism Is So Bad
Norman Lebrecht doesn't think much of American arts journalism. "The failure to challenge is a fundamental flaw in US arts journalism. The tone in US arts coverage is uniformly respectful, uninquiring, inherently supportive." And how did this happen? Because there are few cities with multiple critical voices. "This monopoly places an unhealthy burden on critics. If theirs is to be the only voice to pronounce on a new show or the fate of an institution, they are obliged to wear a mantle of responsibility that is antithetical to good journalism. A critic is licensed to get it wrong from time to time. Restrict that license and the reviews grow safe and solemn. An era of incorporation fostered a pontifical tone in American arts criticism." La Scena Musicale 04/01/04

Director Weighs In On Critics
Why isn't American theatre criticism more of a "companion piece" than a Consumer Reports verdict, wonders Anna Shapiro. "Two things baffle me and make me angry, and they are this: When somebody writes about a new play and says the play is beautiful; the production is beautiful; the performances are stunning; the directing is weak. That makes me angry. But not as angry as: The direction is beautiful; the production is wonderful; the actors are amazing; the play is weak. That makes even less sense to me." Chicago Tribune 07/03/05

Biting Back At Toothless Critics
Why the thumbs up/down review has damaged critics' power to set agendas. ArtsJournal 03/14/01

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