this is us:
Roscoe Odom
Computer Expert
Roscoe is a 5th year History and Journalism Major at the University of Georgia. Originally from Savannah, GA Roscoe enjoys music, basketball, poetry, and fine-dining. His favorite show of all time is Beavis and Butthead.
The critic has many different roles in society with one of the most important being a mediator. With new art and media constantly expanding, it’s impossible for regular people to consume everything. Basically, most people don’t have time to see every movie in theaters or listen to every new album that comes out. It’s the critics role, in some regard, to explain the feeling and quality of a piece of art or media in order to take out the middle man of decision making for average people. The critic needs to do this in a human tone, one that can be easily understood by the untrained masses. Allowing them to make economically responsible and time efficient decisions with their media consumption.
Another role of critics is to contribute to the subconscious opinion of the society in which they work. With each new piece of art or media that comes out, it’s natural that an overarching narrative of the piece's quality develops. While audience approval does well in delivering an untrained and casual opinion of a piece of art or media. The critic on the other hand, is trained to recognize the nuances of a piece of art, and is able to give an all-encompassing opinion that digs deeper. One that helps common people to understand it on a deeper level. One that expresses in words, the feeling that a piece of art invites. In doing so, the critic is able to give an intellectual voice to the art that defines society, contributing to the ongoing history of that society’s expression.
Catie Cornell
Staff-Writer
Catie Cornell is currently a fourth year at the University of Georgia. She is studying Journalism with minors in both Spanish and Human Development and Family Sciences. She plans on graduating in May of 2020. When Catie isn’t in class she enjoys running and cooking. Her favorite show to binge is glee. She plans on watching “The Politician” this upcoming spring. She is still figuring out her plans for after graduation but hopes to pursue education journalism.
Manifesto:
To say there is simply one role of a critic is an understatement. A critic, in its truest form, is essentially a leader. As a leader does, their job is to somewhat guide a larger group of people towards what is right and wrong. While there is no directly correct answer, a critic can guide an everyday citizen through their navigation of all sorts of categories; movies, tv, music, books, etc. A critic serves the people. Not a single person is an expert on everything. People are absolutely experts on certain things, but to be an expert on everything, is merely impossible. So, when somebody who does not know much about a field, the arts specifically, decides to dive into it looking for an enjoyable experience the perfect person for them to turn to is a critic.
Critics are not experts on everything. As mentioned, no one is. However, if there’s anyone close, it is a critic. Critics job is to inform themselves before writing. They research and background report. Then they experience what they’re writing about first-hand, and share their experience with the world. No one wants a bad experience. One of the most frustrating things is to spend money and time on something that turned out to not be enjoyable, or even worse, just plain bad. By experiencing the event themselves, critics are some of the most informed in sharing their valuable knowledge to people. Their job is somewhat prevention; preventing people from negative experiences.
In conclusion, critics do not have one simple job description, the same way a leader does not. They guide, inform, and encourage everyday citizens in a way that they themselves can only do. Without the role of critics many people would have much more miserable experiences, and what kind of fun would that ever be?
Kassidy A. Thomas
Staff-Writer
Kassidy is currently a senior at the Univesity of Georgia. She is studying Journalism with a minor in New Media. While at UGA Kassidy has immersed herself into numerous projects in Athens Clarke County and Atlanta, GA. In her spare time she loves to style others and spend time with family. One of Kassidy’s bucket list items is to be published in The New York Times.
Manifesto:
Every day we as consumers chose rather or not we want to be critical of what we are watching, eating, doing or enjoying. While it is easy to give a terrible review to your Uber Eats driver for delivering your food thirty minutes late, the role of a critic is a bit more complex. As a critic we guide experiences and leave a standing impression on what is quality or merely mediocre. As Fall 2019 comes to a close, I know that a good critic is of service to consumers around the world as they help us to appreciate the depth and complexities of a work of art. While opinions are actively placed in reviews it’s the supporting evidence behind those decisions that make a review sink or float. Critics around the world have fundamentally shaped an alley for healthy debate mixed with passionate opinions. An assessment of the arts is essential and can potentially be the first flame to change within the arts.
Representation in critics matter. Having a diverse palate of critics from different backgrounds, age groups, socioeconomic status’ and nationalities is truly a force to be reckon with. Criticism is about expanding a work of art and making it part of a cultural conversation. With so many different lanes people could potentially fit into, it only makes sense to have a range of individuals ranking multiple aspects of the arts.
After being a critic for the very first time for a total of 16-weeks I now know more than ever what to look for when diving into the multiple areas of the arts. Before recommending somewhere or something to a friend I will be advised of what makes something a top ten pick vs. a holy grail staple. If critics die, the world loses the valuable, precious item that keeps art culture afloat.
Lilly McEachern
Editor/Staff-Writer
Lilly is a senior at The University of Georgia studying Journalism, Art History, and Museum Studies. When Lilly isn't in class she works at the Lyndon House Arts Center and Athens Institute for Contemporary Art. Her favorite show to binge is "Bob's Burgers" on Hulu. She's looking forward to watching the new season of "BoJack Horseman" on Netflix.
Manifesto: To me, critical writing is about working candidly through our own filters of experience and inviting a conversation about the media and products we all are constantly confronting. In this paradigm shift of how we digest media, content creation has become widely accessible and an online presence is, inherently, a platform for discussion. Critical writers are seasoned opinion-givers. They consider what works for a wide audience. Critical writing is one of the few areas where journalists can be creative and use their own voice.