The Art of Reviewing: From Opinions to Epigrams
Exploring the art of reviewing, this content delves into how individuals share opinions on plays, concerts, games, and art. It highlights the power of wit in reviews, showcasing famous reviewers known for their clever epigrams. The significance of epigrams, aphorisms, and clichés in persuasion is also discussed, along with the caution against overdoing and the rarity of true wit.
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THE COVETED REVIEWER We all have opinions about the last play we saw, or the concert, the game or the art We all have opinions about the last play we saw, or the concert, the game or the art show. show. Usually the only way we can make our opinions known is to that small group of friends Usually the only way we can make our opinions known is to that small group of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter. on Facebook or followers on Twitter.
WITTY Writing reviews gives us the opportunity to be witty. Some of the more famous Writing reviews gives us the opportunity to be witty. Some of the more famous reviewers are also the more witty reviewers who write clever epigrams. reviewers are also the more witty reviewers who write clever epigrams.
EPIGRAMS An epigram is a clever saying, a paradox, a concise turn of words. An epigram is a clever saying, a paradox, a concise turn of words. Often they are more memorable and do more to persuade than explanation or Often they are more memorable and do more to persuade than explanation or reason. reason.
EPIGRAMS, APHORISMS AND CLICHS She ran the gamut of emotions from A to B. She ran the gamut of emotions from A to B. Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker It s d j vu all over again. It s d j vu all over again. Yogi Berra. Yogi Berra. Through space, one thought kept crossing my mind: every part of this rocket was Through space, one thought kept crossing my mind: every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder. supplied by the lowest bidder. John Glenn John Glenn Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. John F. Kennedy Kennedy John F.
CLICHS Some of these are so clever that they ve been driven into a clich by repetition: Some of these are so clever that they ve been driven into a clich by repetition: It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt Give me liberty or give me death. Give me liberty or give me death. Patrick Henry Patrick Henry I have a dream. I have a dream. Martin Luther King Martin Luther King
OVERDOING The problem with making up clever sayings is knowing just how far to reach for the The problem with making up clever sayings is knowing just how far to reach for the cleverness. cleverness. True wit is rare, and a thousand barbed arrows fall at the feet of the archer for every True wit is rare, and a thousand barbed arrows fall at the feet of the archer for every one that flies. one that flies. William Zinsser William Zinsser
SERIOUS CRITICISM In any case, in serious criticism sometimes it s too flip to just throw out clever, and In any case, in serious criticism sometimes it s too flip to just throw out clever, and usually critical, epigrams. usually critical, epigrams. It s easier to be clever and critical, actually, than it is to be clever and also try to say It s easier to be clever and critical, actually, than it is to be clever and also try to say something good about the thing you re reviewing. something good about the thing you re reviewing. Sarcastic wit comes easily, maybe way too easily, for many of us, but that doesn t Sarcastic wit comes easily, maybe way too easily, for many of us, but that doesn t mean it s always appropriate. mean it s always appropriate.
POWER OF THE CRITIC We sometimes also presume the critic has more power to make or break a show than We sometimes also presume the critic has more power to make or break a show than is really the case. is really the case. We all know of critically panned books or movies that have been enormously We all know of critically panned books or movies that have been enormously successful successful and, conversely, critically acclaimed ones that have not done so well. and, conversely, critically acclaimed ones that have not done so well.
CRITICS VS. REVIEWERS Strictly speaking, a critic isn t the same as a reviewer. Strictly speaking, a critic isn t the same as a reviewer. A reviewer normally writes for a newspaper or popular website, and covers the A reviewer normally writes for a newspaper or popular website, and covers the whole industry. For example, the output of television, or movies, cookbooks, whole industry. For example, the output of television, or movies, cookbooks, restaurants, etc. restaurants, etc. The reviewer mostly reports. You are there to represent your readers who want to The reviewer mostly reports. You are there to represent your readers who want to know. know.
REVIEWERS It s up the reviewer to answer questions such as It s up the reviewer to answer questions such as What is the new TV series about? What is the new TV series about? Is the movie okay for kids? Is the movie okay for kids? Will the website really help me make a better Irish stew? (Always a high priority for Will the website really help me make a better Irish stew? (Always a high priority for me.) me.)
WEBSITES A lot of reviews today are uploaded to websites such as Yelp and A lot of reviews today are uploaded to websites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor TripAdvisor. . Local reviewers and reviews of local plays or shows, however, are less likely to be Local reviewers and reviews of local plays or shows, however, are less likely to be found on these sites. found on these sites. In all cases, though, you have to think about what In all cases, though, you have to think about what you planning to attend or spend money for these things. planning to attend or spend money for these things. you would want to know if you were would want to know if you were
CRITICS A critic does have quite a bit in common with a reviewer. But a critic usually writes a A critic does have quite a bit in common with a reviewer. But a critic usually writes a longer and more sophisticated commentary. longer and more sophisticated commentary. While critics and reviewers certainly need to be fair, probably they should at least like While critics and reviewers certainly need to be fair, probably they should at least like what they are reviewing. If, for example, you really don t like art shows, probably what they are reviewing. If, for example, you really don t like art shows, probably you re not the best person to review them. you re not the best person to review them. Try to go to the event hoping you are going to like it, wanting to like it, instead of going Try to go to the event hoping you are going to like it, wanting to like it, instead of going under the presumption that you re going to hate everything. under the presumption that you re going to hate everything. People who always write angry and negative reviews get tiring quickly. We don t really People who always write angry and negative reviews get tiring quickly. We don t really like constant whiners. like constant whiners.
DESCRIBING THE PLOT Perhaps it should be obvious that if you do a review of a movie or book, don t give Perhaps it should be obvious that if you do a review of a movie or book, don t give away too much of the plot. away too much of the plot. Even if you include a spoiler alert, you still hurt the enjoyment of someone else who Even if you include a spoiler alert, you still hurt the enjoyment of someone else who may want to see or read the work. may want to see or read the work.
PLOT For example, you can say just a sentence or two, such as: For example, you can say just a sentence or two, such as: This movie is about a normal family man who turns assassin to avenge the murder of This movie is about a normal family man who turns assassin to avenge the murder of his wife and daughter during a bus takeover by armed terrorists. his wife and daughter during a bus takeover by armed terrorists. Now I for one do not want to see any more violent movies about avenging dads. But Now I for one do not want to see any more violent movies about avenging dads. But you might. So while spoil it by including all the plot twists and even a surprise you might. So while spoil it by including all the plot twists and even a surprise ending? ending?
DETAIL We already know (or should!) about avoiding generalities, from travel writing to We already know (or should!) about avoiding generalities, from travel writing to memoirs. Be specific! memoirs. Be specific! We also try to avoid generalities in criticism and reviews. We also try to avoid generalities in criticism and reviews.
BE SPECIFIC For example, you can write, The television show is always intriguing. For example, you can write, The television show is always intriguing. But how is it intriguing? Maybe the reader finds different things intriguing. Cite some But how is it intriguing? Maybe the reader finds different things intriguing. Cite some examples. examples. Roger Ebert, reviewing the 1996 movie Fargo, called it one of the best films I ve Roger Ebert, reviewing the 1996 movie Fargo, called it one of the best films I ve ever seen. What does he mean, specifically, though? Example from the review: ever seen. What does he mean, specifically, though? Example from the review: Small roles seem bigger because they're so well written and observed. Kristin Rudrud has few scenes as Jerry's wife, but creates a character out of them, always chopping or stirring something furiously in the kitchen. Their teenage son, who excuses himself from the table to go to McDonald's, helps establish the film's milieu with a bedroom that has a poster on its wall for the Accordion King.
LET READERS FIND THE ADJECTIVE So avoid saying the play is clunky or sluggish, that the art show is bland and trite, So avoid saying the play is clunky or sluggish, that the art show is bland and trite, or that the writer s style is striking and unusual. or that the writer s style is striking and unusual. Instead, describe the lighting, the movements, the art works or the phrases that led Instead, describe the lighting, the movements, the art works or the phrases that led you to the conclusion. And then let the reader make the conclusion. you to the conclusion. And then let the reader make the conclusion. Try to describe what you saw and heard so the reader can do the same. Try to describe what you saw and heard so the reader can do the same.
AVOID SUPERLATIVES Avoid staid superlatives such as Avoid staid superlatives such as Awesome! Awesome! Fantastic! Fantastic! Stunning! Stunning! Great! Great! Amazing! Amazing! Etc Etc! !
MORE ON CRITICISM Criticism is longer and more serious than review. Criticism is longer and more serious than review. The critic tries to evaluate the work as an intellectual exercise. The critic tries to evaluate the work as an intellectual exercise. He or she tries to place it in the context of what has been done before, or what the He or she tries to place it in the context of what has been done before, or what the artist has done before. artist has done before. Often the critic is more of a scholar than a journalist Often the critic is more of a scholar than a journalist or sees herself or himself more that way. that way. or sees herself or himself more
THE CRITICS BACKGROUND Reviewers, of course, may be knowledgeable about the genre. But critics prepare Reviewers, of course, may be knowledgeable about the genre. But critics prepare themselves by becoming true experts. themselves by becoming true experts. If you want to be an art critic, see every possible work of art. If you want to be an art critic, see every possible work of art. Study art history. Study art history. Learn the art media. Learn the art media. Know the classics. Know the classics. Know your Know your Klees of their era, and why they were significant. of their era, and why they were significant. Klees from your from your Calders Calders, and understand what each meant to the patrons , and understand what each meant to the patrons
RECOGNIZING THE GOOD Only by knowing about the art world can you recognize talent, understand its Only by knowing about the art world can you recognize talent, understand its influence, and predict its future. influence, and predict its future. This goes for any kind of critic. You really can t do a reasonable job criticizing Martin This goes for any kind of critic. You really can t do a reasonable job criticizing Martin Scorsese s new movie unless you know his entire body of works. If you don t, you Scorsese s new movie unless you know his entire body of works. If you don t, you really aren t of much use to the serious movie buff. really aren t of much use to the serious movie buff. If rock If rock- -and listened to most of it. listened to most of it. and- -roll is your area, you need to know the era from Elvis to Pink, and have roll is your area, you need to know the era from Elvis to Pink, and have Clearly you are aiming for a more knowledgeable group of readers, and you don t Clearly you are aiming for a more knowledgeable group of readers, and you don t want to waste their time. want to waste their time.
AIM FOR DEBATE Critics often try to encourage readers to rethink their presumptions, to identify their Critics often try to encourage readers to rethink their presumptions, to identify their prejudices and take another look. prejudices and take another look. Your writers may disagree with you, but they know you have as much knowledge of Your writers may disagree with you, but they know you have as much knowledge of the genre as they do, and they ll enjoy the debate. the genre as they do, and they ll enjoy the debate.
CRITICS AND SOPHISTICATION Good critics try to be sophisticated for their readers, but not so opaque that non Good critics try to be sophisticated for their readers, but not so opaque that non- - specialists can t follow them. Here s a review of Toscanini: specialists can t follow them. Here s a review of Toscanini: It is extraordinary how little musicians discuss among themselves. Toscanini s rightness or wrongness about matters of speed and rhythm and the tonal amenities. Like other musicians, he is frequently apt about these and as frequently in error. What seems to be more important is his unvarying ability to put over a piece. He quite shamelessly whips up the tempo and sacrifices clarity and ignores a basic rhythm, just making the music, like his baton, go round and round, if he find his audience s attention tending to waver. No piece has to mean anything specific; every piece has to provoke from its hearers a spontaneous vote of acceptance. That is what I call the wow technique. (Virgil Thomson) Obviously Thomson doesn t worship Toscanini, but tries to capture the essence of what made him great.
PERSONAL OPINION All criticism, from the review to the scholarly observation, has as its base someone s All criticism, from the review to the scholarly observation, has as its base someone s personal opinion. personal opinion. Express your opinion clearly. Avoid writing prevarications: Express your opinion clearly. Avoid writing prevarications: Some may disagree with me, but in my opinion Mad Men is one of the most important television programs of the last decade or two, if not the most important. Why not just go ahead and say Why not just go ahead and say Mad Men is the most important television program in the last decade. And then support your opinion with specifics. No need to say In my opinion. Of And then support your opinion with specifics. No need to say In my opinion. Of course it s in your opinion! No need to say some may disagree, because some course it s in your opinion! No need to say some may disagree, because some will disagree whether you admit it or not! will disagree whether you admit it or not!
ASSIGNMENT Write a critique of a cultural event. Write a critique of a cultural event. It may be an art show (on or off campus), a movie, television show, play, concert, or It may be an art show (on or off campus), a movie, television show, play, concert, or other (non other (non- -sports) event. sports) event. Choose something you know something about (if possible!). Choose something you know something about (if possible!). Do a little research regarding the genre. Persuade us that you know more about it Do a little research regarding the genre. Persuade us that you know more about it than most readers. than most readers. Try to be witty. If your wit is pathetic, however, play it straight. Try to be witty. If your wit is pathetic, however, play it straight. Write an article of about 1,500 words. Write an article of about 1,500 words.
