“Everybody’s a Critic. And That’s How It Should Be” is not as much thought-provoking as it is ironic. A critic explaining why his job could easily be performed by anyone who is capable of forming an opinion seems a little strange. Why would anyone in their right mind discredit their own work? In my humble non-professional opinion, A. O. Scott may have gone a little too far to make a point.
However, I agree with him on the Oscars. Not exactly because I think that celebrities are not reliable judges, but because of this generation’s overuse of social media. We rely too heavily on others’ opinions, and not because it is so much easier to communicate, but because the number of likes on a picture holds any sort of significance. We are all blessed with our unique tastes and opinions and we tend to forget it. Scott reminds us that before Facebook, the only conversations we had with ourselves were in our heads. Now every thought and opinion is out on the internet for everyone to see.
It is true that everyone is a critic. In my opinion, critics are not popular unless they attract an audience by expressing their thoughts in an entertaining way. Why would anyone read a three-page review if it didn’t grab their attention? It is the way that someone is able to reach and appeal to an audience that makes him or her a critic. “This movie sucked” would definitely not be enough for an average person to care enough to keep reading. It is the art of expressing one’s opinion that makes him or her a good critic.
I agree with you that in today’s society this generation uses social media way too much. They rely on it to get an approval of whatever it is, instead of just being themselves. I agree that we do tend to forget we have our own thoughts and opinions and use them. But I think it is hard to use them since nowadays people all they do is use technology and different medias. In one way it is helpful because in some social media we have to think, do we agree with that person because everyone is or do I against them?