tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740282838839188438.post1774707167617113729..comments2023-12-17T05:31:18.637-05:00Comments on 'kül: metaDRAMA: Computers Killing Critics?Aaron Ricciohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05003634532469211190noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740282838839188438.post-60158527986131700232013-09-20T08:11:48.764-04:002013-09-20T08:11:48.764-04:00Congratulation for the great post. Those who come ...Congratulation for the great post. Those who come to read your article will find lots of helpful and informative tips.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onlinemarket360.com/products/Acer-%252d-15.6%22-Aspire-Notebook-%252d-4-GB-Memory-%252d-500-GB-Hard-Drive-%252d-Black.html/" title="Acer - 15.6" rel="nofollow">Acer - 15.6" Aspire Notebook - 4 GB Memory - 500 GB Hard Drive - Black</a><br><br /><a href="http://www.onlinemarket360.com/products/Acer-%252d-Aspire-AS5560%252d83524G50Mnkk-15.6%22-LED-Notebook-%252d-AMD-A8%252d3520M-1.60-GHz-%252d-Black.html/" title="Acer - Aspire AS5560-83524G50Mnkk 15.6" rel="nofollow">Acer - Aspire AS5560-83524G50Mnkk 15.6" LED Notebook - AMD A8-3520M 1.60 GHz - Black</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05627239711981072542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740282838839188438.post-23180176840540217962011-12-08T14:13:56.574-05:002011-12-08T14:13:56.574-05:00yes, agreed. I can't wait to toast from afar t...yes, agreed. I can't wait to toast from afar the day when you replace one of those old cranks at a big hardcopy paper.RLewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01902713893262869164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740282838839188438.post-68313298806021140212011-12-08T00:17:03.772-05:002011-12-08T00:17:03.772-05:00Glad to hear your thoughts, RL; I especially like ...Glad to hear your thoughts, RL; I especially like that line: "critics are too cold and audiences are too warm." That's what struck me most in this conversation; yes, a forgiving audience would most likely tend toward praising a show (I'm still astounded at how many average shows manage to force a standing ovation these days), so I can understand a producer's desire for them to weigh in, but to have a director say as much? Particularly an artistic one? <br /><br />As you note, too, I think there's value in getting to know a critic's taste. I've gone to see things that a critic has panned -- because I know that I like the work that's not up his alley. Problem is, most audiences don't rely on a critic in that sense: they're been taught to look for simple blurbs and to think that entertainment is built only with neon lights, which sometimes enables critics to kill a show when audiences don't bother to think for themselves. <br /><br />I think back to Charles Isherwood's review of Fuerzabruta, in which he wrote about how uncomfortable he was. Sure, but his description of what MADE him uncomfortable is also what had me run out to see it. You could say the same of something like Sleep No More, too; the only way you'd have a bad review of that production is if the critic didn't mention what the show was doing. As long as he describes the basic concept and execution, his gut reaction isn't likely to turn off anybody who wouldn't already be turned off to begin with. <br /><br />This is what we talk about when we talk about theater, eh?Aaron Ricciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003634532469211190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5740282838839188438.post-52404664321090347182011-12-07T17:52:35.560-05:002011-12-07T17:52:35.560-05:00Aaron, I'm not even sure what you're sayin...Aaron, I'm not even sure what you're saying here, but I think that's a good thing. I don't think that it's a rant, but I've never thought there was any one solution to criticism. It may take several.<br /><br />It also brings to mind a post I just read at Rob W-K's blog, which reminded me of how much a role context and expectation play in this process. If a show were to have 100% thumbs up, it better be something that everyone will like. Cuz I, like others, who go on the basis of the thumbs up will be expecting some world rocking. Anything less and I'll have bad thoughts even if the show is better than good.<br /><br />I remember when everyone hated Frank Rich. Sure, he didn't like anything, but that never stopped me (and many others) from seeing a particular show. In fact, after reading him for a while, I could kinda tell when I'd love a show that he hated or hate a show that he said something good about.<br /><br />On the other hand, there's an indie theater website that reviews tons of shows and never has a bad word to say. I hate that, cuz I can never tell if I'm gonna want to see a show from its review there.<br /><br />And then, there's a TONY critic who writes great reviews, but in real life he has very unique tastes, and that's putting it lightly. Often I wonder what he sees in some shows, but it's very clear that he sees something. Maybe I don't get the context, but I always learn something.<br /><br />For me, I guess it goes back to cliches: there's no accounting for taste, and you can't make other people think. Critics are too cold and audiences are too warm. There is good and bad in both, so if your friend is taking either to heart, it is sure to drive him/her mad. Critics are people, too, so they ramble and digress just like audience individuals, and they're not all great at their jobs.<br /><br />Maybe it's the jagged edges of varied responses that tell the real story that aggregation only mellows. We want solutions to straighten things out, straighten us out, but maybe on this one it takes a village and a messy one at that. Thanks for making me think about this.RLewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01902713893262869164noreply@blogger.com