I got the idea for this post from my own decision to not do reviews again. I wont delete that Big Bang Theory review but looking back I didnt really enjoy writing that. Plus when there's so many subjects that I can insult, I really shouldn't insult my blog by discussing TV episodes on it of all things. Also, criticism might not be my thing. And why that might be, is what gave me the idea for this post. Hence the name.
Since I have a bunch of exams this week I will drag this post onto a second part where I will write some after thoughts that I might have on the subject.
Anyways, so criticism probably started off as a well meaning thing and constructive thing. I am going to go off on a slight tangent here to create some strained humor. Maybe early hominids had critics for the stone tools they made. I have an archaeology exam tomorrow; for that our Professor/ TA put up a review sheet on which they have a couple 'stone tool industries' which my TA said was simply different styles of making tools. So imagine stone tool critics going around different villages giving out grades to different tool makers that will be published in the "Rock and Antler" magazine. Along with that some interesting articles like, "Retouch techniques: Keep your tools sharp for when that saber-toothed tiger comes knocking" and "Microliths: Multi purpose mini tools the new buzz word in the cave?"
Anyways to circle back to the topic of the post, most criticism might be still constructive. But some like movie criticism or music criticism (eg. what Grammy judges think they do) is just so relative. For example, I am someone who goes to the movies to see things blow up and bad guys being shot in slow motion. I dont care if Roger Ebert gave some new Vin Diesel movie zero stars, if there's explosions and jaw breaking punches in it, I go see it. And again I dont go to the movies to feel sad, I go to be entertained and see something which doesnt happen in front of me everyday. I mean come on, everyone above 16 feels he or she has been in love and then gotten his or her heart broken and then "they lived one day at a time while they came to terms with the tragedy". There's been a billion movies and songs about it and yeah I weep for you because you live with the illusion that your life is so dramatic. If I see that in the movies too, I'll choke fatally on my popcorn. So my point is what is the basis for the judgement and criticism? Fortunately there's more reviews for a movie than the number of cast and crew for the movie itself, so I generally get a gist of whether or not a movie should be to my liking.
So to quote from one of my favorite animated movies which, ironically, isnt an action movie, "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."
Since I have a bunch of exams this week I will drag this post onto a second part where I will write some after thoughts that I might have on the subject.
Anyways, so criticism probably started off as a well meaning thing and constructive thing. I am going to go off on a slight tangent here to create some strained humor. Maybe early hominids had critics for the stone tools they made. I have an archaeology exam tomorrow; for that our Professor/ TA put up a review sheet on which they have a couple 'stone tool industries' which my TA said was simply different styles of making tools. So imagine stone tool critics going around different villages giving out grades to different tool makers that will be published in the "Rock and Antler" magazine. Along with that some interesting articles like, "Retouch techniques: Keep your tools sharp for when that saber-toothed tiger comes knocking" and "Microliths: Multi purpose mini tools the new buzz word in the cave?"
Anyways to circle back to the topic of the post, most criticism might be still constructive. But some like movie criticism or music criticism (eg. what Grammy judges think they do) is just so relative. For example, I am someone who goes to the movies to see things blow up and bad guys being shot in slow motion. I dont care if Roger Ebert gave some new Vin Diesel movie zero stars, if there's explosions and jaw breaking punches in it, I go see it. And again I dont go to the movies to feel sad, I go to be entertained and see something which doesnt happen in front of me everyday. I mean come on, everyone above 16 feels he or she has been in love and then gotten his or her heart broken and then "they lived one day at a time while they came to terms with the tragedy". There's been a billion movies and songs about it and yeah I weep for you because you live with the illusion that your life is so dramatic. If I see that in the movies too, I'll choke fatally on my popcorn. So my point is what is the basis for the judgement and criticism? Fortunately there's more reviews for a movie than the number of cast and crew for the movie itself, so I generally get a gist of whether or not a movie should be to my liking.
So to quote from one of my favorite animated movies which, ironically, isnt an action movie, "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."
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