In defense of criticism: A theater critic asks what good does it do in an upside-down world
LA TimesWhy would anyone want to be a critic? John Simon fit the acerbic bill so well that he even appeared on an episode of “The Odd Couple,” along with the more gentlemanly example of Los Angeles Times theater critic Daniel Sullivan. Theater critic isn’t a category of profession, like doctor, teacher, firefighter or astronaut, that young people imagine. Despair comes naturally to a critic, but I had a bout of unexpected optimism recently when asked to appear on a panel organized by Critical Insight, a writing fellowship program established by Pittsburgh Public Theater and American Theatre magazine that brings together established critics with emerging voices in the field of arts journalism. It might surprise people to learn that I didn’t become a theater critic because I wanted to lord my taste over the masses.
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