tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post6680520537402271635..comments2024-02-22T01:36:48.427-08:00Comments on On Theatre and Politics - Matthew Freeman: A year without critics?Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01183078884824734105noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post-56954705231036648972008-06-19T10:06:00.000-07:002008-06-19T10:06:00.000-07:00The problem is in the presuppositions of the statu...The problem is in the presuppositions of the status and role of critics (are they truly or just theoretically unbiased?) and criticism itself (is its role to "celebrate" talent? Isn't that the proper role of the publicist and the awards ceremony?). As the comments of Jana and Andrew at my original post indicate, these views assume something which is next to impossible -- that the critic is a tabula rasa who isn't informed by preconceived and often unexamined notions about what constitutes "good" and "bad" theatre.<BR/><BR/>Neither good nor bad reviews are unbiased. Jana and Andrew quite properly point out these biases. The assumption that they're unbiased -- that they don't reflect current ideological or aesthetic or cultural consensus as to what constitutes good or bad theatre, what should or should not be celebrated -- is an extremely dangerous and potentially crippling perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post-88869687919743551302008-06-19T08:50:00.000-07:002008-06-19T08:50:00.000-07:00Having worked on many-oh-so-many OOB showcases and...Having worked on many-oh-so-many OOB showcases and the like, a good review in The Times doubles, even triples the audience. It gets the attention of industry, which sometimes propels careers. Can Broadway survive without critics? Indisputably. For many Broadway shows, the juggernaut of publicity they can afford makes them critic-proof. Brantley excoriated "The Little Mermaid"--she is still doing just fine. Theatre of lesser means, though, can be boosted by a positive review in ways that only help the artists involved. Even reviews from websites, small publications, etc., make for catchier-looking promotions than just the company or artist alone blowing their own horn. <BR/><BR/>Reviews provide free, theoretically unbiased, widely-dispersed recognition for many companies and artists that need and deserve it. <BR/><BR/>A hypothetical year without them would rob us of a lot of talent we should be celebrating.Matthew Trumbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09926365388225460904noreply@blogger.com