There are many purposes for critique; whether it is to express personal opinion or for improvement of the subject on trial, it is important to be critical. To critique is to question and to question is to improve through debate and a change in perspective. Anyone and everyone who has an opinion can do so, and has. What we think, feel, like or dislike as humans is valid, and can be shared or disputed amongst our peers of similar or of different interest. A.O. Scott, author of “Everybody’s A Critic. And That’s How It Should Be.” shows through multiple examples how critical our world is, and both the positive and negative effects it has on society.

What I liked most about this article was the confused voice through which Scott described his own opinion about “critic.” He goes back and forth, speaking of both the necessity and of the detriment that comes from people being critical. His first argument is against the “Oscars,” where he questions whether or not one singular group of people can determine the “best of the best” for movies. Obviously, everyone has their own preferences and oftentimes the movies that are considered the greatest of all time are not even nominated. Is this fair? But he then goes on to admit, even his own opinion, then, is insignificant. How can we measure the worth of someone’s opinion if all of ours are bias and of little matter? And even then, what is the harm in a bit of criticism?

“To be a critic is to be a soldier in this fight, a defender of the life of art and a champion of the art of living.” When we stop bringing our criticisms to the table is when we stop comparing ideas between individuals, and we stop creative minds. Although criticism often has a negative connotation, it is a valuable aspect of thought and development and, in simplest forms, of just interactions between humans.

Emily Weiss

02.10.2016