Critics Circle Conference

The Critics' Circle held a centenary conference at the Central School of Speech and Drama on 27th September 2013.

http://www.criticscircle.org.uk/

I was very fortunate to have come across the listing and sign up thanks to my reviewing. And it was free.
Although the emphasis of the day was theatre criticism, there was much discussion about cultural criticism in general. I also have been fortunate to review theatre.

The initial point must be that I always refer to being a reviewer rather than a critic. I think it is a distinction that sits more within my own mind, but there is much more common ground between what I do and what I think critics do that it all ends up the same.

The practice of reviewing, critique, or whatever you call it, is really the same, writing about an art form through a critical perspective - critical in all senses of being cynical and questioning of what is received, to an analysis within the context of its media and history. An informed view perhaps.

If culture is not passed through the filter of informed criticism, then what is left is the growing plethora of publicity, advertising, and whatever the production company says about its own work. This is very true of mainstream theatre, which has a very sophisticated publicity machine, and is true in different ways of other art forms. Looking at Fine Art, and all the exhibitions I go to, there is often so much blurb to accept, and the only voice is that of the gallery, the curator or the artist. We all know that impenetrable art-speak, and we also all know that sometimes it's over-serious nonsense.

Generally, the writers involved in the conference are very aware of and are involved and not resistant to the move away from print media to online. Like everyone else they have moved on. And like many other areas of arts and freelance activity, the growth of unpaid activity online and elsewhere has led, not to more opportunities for people to step up into paid work, but a growth of unpaid opportunities and an actual diminution of paid reviewing. If the profession is undermined, not supported and remunerated, criticism will be less rigorous and valid, and more prone to commercial pressures.

I myself do a variety of paid and unpaid reviews. I'd rather be paid, but often consider there are fringe benefits in what I get to see.

Personally when I am reviewing, I am always looking for something to like, something to understand, and to grasp a thing on its own terms. I hope to reflect what it is, and basically whether it does what it says on the tin. I think with art reviewing there is often another element of interpretation, a handle, or a way in. If I can find some insight to attach to it, even if it starts a long way off, that will be my take.

Writing this, I have done a quick calculation that I have probably reviewed several hundred books, exhibitions, films, theatre, concerts and other things over the years. With some of the things I have been to over the past year for The Upcoming I now know I truly can review anything.

Reviewing is an essential part of culture, from serious and academic reflection to making a fair choice as the audience.

2nd October 2013