Anne's Approach
Jumping into Kris Vire's article, "Critical Condition" from TimeOut feels like getting up to speed in a chat room -- trying to figure out each persona's stance on the topic at-hand. If you don't know the writer/critic/blogger from personal experience, it may be hard to fully comprehend their stance on each question posed by Vire, the moderator of sorts.Amongst the banter by the cast of characters, one proclaimed Blogger and music critic stands out -- Anne Holub, editor of Gapers Block.com's music blog "Transmission". Her comments in regards to the conversation of having an "ongoing relationship" with a critic may ring true to the reader. In her opinion, she finds that finding a critic that "gels with your beliefs" or can "convince you of thinking otherwise" is something that she deems trustworthy in a critic, and something she herself can find compelling about a critic, or writer of any sort. This is what brings the readers back wanting more from a selected writer.
Finding a critic (blogger in this case) in today's blogosphere that seems worthy of your time can be a daunting task. Anyone can do it, but it's like finding a contact lens in a haystack. It can be done, but one may just rely on the top results.
A usual occurrence
(Google search): music critic, good. (Search)
(Result): About 6,540,000 results
Think of how much confusion there is about the whole "critic" vs. "reviewer" debate and try to find a critic who turns out to be a reviewer and vice versa. And, add to that the whole "amateur" and "professional" aspect of worthiness and you can find yourself glomming onto a blogger, or blog that feels like they gel with your personal taste. You follow that person, and you stick with them and give them a chance. This must be similiar in the way a reader may look for a critic on the newstands; pick a magazine, or newspaper and search for the first article to come up. Right?
Holub relates the finding a perspective of a critic that you take a likin' to, similar to arguing your point with "good friends" who you may or may not agree or disagree with. The underlying communication is their own perspective and opinion and that's what makes it entertaining and "fun", and gives you the opportunity to give your side of the story. That debate in your head with the critic can be what hooks you.
Holub seems to understand the underlying message of the overall topic in this forum; writing for the masses has grown with the advent of the web, and criticizing the content that spews across the interweb through "casual conversation" found on these sites can turn "serious journalism" into a dying craft.
This is what makes any form of art or expression an ongoing form that won't die -- the acknowledgement that the form has been tainted by amateurism, and that the improvements lie in the eyes and minds of those who want to continue to keep it alive with class and integrity. Whether it's working for the man and making a good living doing it, or killing your wrists for a blog -- the devotion to the art form of writing, and writing as a critic is what really matters.
Holub may be a hack, a wonderful music critic (or reviewer). One can't tell by this article alone how she writes as a blogger for Gapers Block. But, her words ring true in the song and dance of this discussion.
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