http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2007/03/14/embedded-should-critics-be-in-the-trenches/ Outside Ideas from Inside the Walker Art Center Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:18:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2007/03/14/embedded-should-critics-be-in-the-trenches/#comment-26829 Paul Schmelzer Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:37:50 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2007/03/14/embedded-should-critics-be-in-the-trenches/#comment-26829 The essay acknowledges that the visual art realm is particularly tricky in this regard, as it (usually) involves objects that are made available for sale, and criticism can affect that sale price. In dance, perhaps such distance isn't as necessary, and maybe being somewhat more "embedded" is good, to a degree: the reviewer who's close to the scene and knows the specific vocabulary is in a good position to help the rest of us -- who may or, in my case, may not know a ton about dance -- navigate the form. Getting too close seems problematic, too, if it creates the <i>appearance</i> that friendships and familiarities might be affecting reviews. The essay acknowledges that the visual art realm is particularly tricky in this regard, as it (usually) involves objects that are made available for sale, and criticism can affect that sale price. In dance, perhaps such distance isn’t as necessary, and maybe being somewhat more “embedded” is good, to a degree: the reviewer who’s close to the scene and knows the specific vocabulary is in a good position to help the rest of us — who may or, in my case, may not know a ton about dance — navigate the form. Getting too close seems problematic, too, if it creates the appearance that friendships and familiarities might be affecting reviews.

]]> http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2007/03/14/embedded-should-critics-be-in-the-trenches/#comment-26824 Robert Haarman Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:28:02 +0000 http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2007/03/14/embedded-should-critics-be-in-the-trenches/#comment-26824 I see something problematic with your article theme. It suggests the trickery of negotiating art, music, dance etc. into commerce. We in the dance community might bode well with having a critic in our messes and buying up dances. The common dance critic here in Mpls., is an architect and critic of that field. We may do better with her there. Other writers for dance are of the practice and write with its discipline and effect in mind and pen. Yay, we artists are lo to have those who risk their cultural status, piece of mind and perhaps sanity, promoting the arts they ideally participate in. I see something problematic with your article theme. It suggests the trickery of negotiating art, music, dance etc. into commerce. We in the dance community might bode well with having a critic in our messes and buying up dances. The common dance critic here in Mpls., is an architect and critic of that field. We may do better with her there. Other writers for dance are of the practice and write with its discipline and effect in mind and pen. Yay, we artists are lo to have those who risk their cultural status, piece of mind and perhaps sanity, promoting the arts they ideally participate in.

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