prepared for the downvotes here, but I cut my teeth in journalism in arts criticism and deeply respect some of the people I’ve known in the field.
I think this kind of opinion - and the irony does not escape me that I’m performing a sort of criticism here - is rather misinformed.
Yes, anyone can be a critic in the same way that anyone who can, slowly and haltingly, play a C Major scale, can be a musician.
But I believe, like my metaphor, that if you were to dive into successful and recognized critic’s (/musicians) work you’d find a lot more depth than you’d expect.
If any — Who are the critics you dislike, and why? If any — who are the critics you do like (even begrudgingly), and why?
I don’t believe all critics are unqualified or unhelpful, just that the barrier for entry is so low that any “critic review” shouldn’t facially be held as more valid than an average consumer’s view.
IMO the worst reviews tend to be from large gaming journalism companies. There’s a lot of systemic problems with them like crunch, people writing reviews on genres they don’t have experience with, nepotism, and them inflating the scores of AAA titles so publishers continue to give them early access allowing them to release reviews in time. These aren’t all necessarily the fault of the writer of each of their reviews, but do degrade the credibility of the review.
Sticking with games there’s good journalism that comes from independent reviewers, like Dunkey, but they’ll typically have a specialty in a particular genre. My general go to is usually reading Steam user reviews, but only taking to heart those voted most helpful that actually give critiques and praises. Independent critics or user reviews in my eye have the great benefits of not being beholden like large studios.
Someone did a great breakdown comparing user and critic game reviews and outlining the gaming industry’s issues in this video: https://youtu.be/YGfEf8-SNPQ?si=
Off of digital media entirely Project Farm is probably one of the best out there if you’re looking for tools.
I’ve worked as a film critic, and I was shocked by other critics. They didn’t have the knowledge of cinema, directors etc to say anything meaningful other than just what they thought. The they have the film a random (seemingly) star rating or dice toss.
Local and national newspapers here in Norway, and as a freelancer for various cinema magazines in the Nordics. I got a master’s degree in film studies. Didn’t pay much, though
I quite like Mark Kermode because he’s a film historian as well as a critic. I don’t always agree with him but every review he harkens back to the director or actor’s previous catalogue and I can get an entertaining perspective on his view.
prepared for the downvotes here, but I cut my teeth in journalism in arts criticism and deeply respect some of the people I’ve known in the field.
I think this kind of opinion - and the irony does not escape me that I’m performing a sort of criticism here - is rather misinformed.
Yes, anyone can be a critic in the same way that anyone who can, slowly and haltingly, play a C Major scale, can be a musician.
But I believe, like my metaphor, that if you were to dive into successful and recognized critic’s (/musicians) work you’d find a lot more depth than you’d expect.
If any — Who are the critics you dislike, and why? If any — who are the critics you do like (even begrudgingly), and why?
I don’t believe all critics are unqualified or unhelpful, just that the barrier for entry is so low that any “critic review” shouldn’t facially be held as more valid than an average consumer’s view.
IMO the worst reviews tend to be from large gaming journalism companies. There’s a lot of systemic problems with them like crunch, people writing reviews on genres they don’t have experience with, nepotism, and them inflating the scores of AAA titles so publishers continue to give them early access allowing them to release reviews in time. These aren’t all necessarily the fault of the writer of each of their reviews, but do degrade the credibility of the review.
Sticking with games there’s good journalism that comes from independent reviewers, like Dunkey, but they’ll typically have a specialty in a particular genre. My general go to is usually reading Steam user reviews, but only taking to heart those voted most helpful that actually give critiques and praises. Independent critics or user reviews in my eye have the great benefits of not being beholden like large studios.
Someone did a great breakdown comparing user and critic game reviews and outlining the gaming industry’s issues in this video: https://youtu.be/YGfEf8-SNPQ?si=
Off of digital media entirely Project Farm is probably one of the best out there if you’re looking for tools.
I’ve worked as a film critic, and I was shocked by other critics. They didn’t have the knowledge of cinema, directors etc to say anything meaningful other than just what they thought. The they have the film a random (seemingly) star rating or dice toss.
what kind of publication? mine was on something related to the big uk papers: The Times and The Guardian.
Local and national newspapers here in Norway, and as a freelancer for various cinema magazines in the Nordics. I got a master’s degree in film studies. Didn’t pay much, though
I quite like Mark Kermode because he’s a film historian as well as a critic. I don’t always agree with him but every review he harkens back to the director or actor’s previous catalogue and I can get an entertaining perspective on his view.