Since the beginning (of the history
we are able to trace), criticism has played an important role in shaping the
thoughts, actions, and mores of society. The role of the critic, therefore, is a
concept that is engrained in our collective societal mind. The idea of
criticism is oddly blacklisted in a world which accepts, even celebrates, the
opinions of others. So many people talk about how things aren’t politically
correct. Everyone knows the saying that goes, “If you don’t have anything nice
to say, don’t say anything at all.” You probably grew up hearing that over and
over.
But seriously, imagine a world
where people only said nice things. No one said anything controversial or
expressed opinions contrary to popular belief. It would be like The Giver, sterile and colorless and
unimaginative. What if someone literally was filled with all controversial, against
the grain things to say and God made it impossible for him to say anything “nice”
and so he just stopped talking for the rest of his life because his mom told
him not to say anything at all? What if this guy had the key to solving some
really big problem that no one else could solve because everyone was too busy
agreeing with the next guy to formulate an opinion of his own?
So clearly, this is taking it an
extra step too far because maybe our moms didn’t mean not to speculate but
simply just not to call Jenny fat because she ate the last entire row of your Caramel Delights. Nonetheless, the cliché serves
us a purpose because if everyone fell into the habit of not saying something
because they think it would offend someone, the world would be stagnant and
boring. We’d all just be sheep, baa-lieving one truth when in reality there are
so many truths. Your mom probably also told you that “if you don’t stand for
something, you will fall for anything.”
A critic is allowed to state
his/her opinion. It’s acceptable because it’s the norm. The notion that anyone can really assume the role of the
critic is rocking the boat. Movie, music, and literature critiques in
newspapers from professional critics are dwindling away in favor of bloggers,
op-ed writers, and everyday people. What’s unchanging is the purpose the critic
serves in our greater society: whoever the person behind the critique is,
he/she is generating thought.
Opinions spark imagination,
creativity, reactions, learning. So many people have so many good ideas that
are unheard because they were taught that to be “down to earth” you have to “always
go with the flow.” Sometimes the better option is to swim against the current.
If someone hadn’t spoken up against denying women rights given to men, where
would we be? As a woman, I wouldn’t even be publicly writing this. If no voice
was heard in the name of the Super Bowl Half-Time performance by Beyoncé, where
would we be? We might still be blissfully unaware that she is black. If no one
had told us that Chick-Fil-A was better than McDonald’s, where would we be?
Probably still in the McDonald’s drive-thru! Culture is shifting and ever-changing;
it’s a flux which cannot be denied the voice of the people. So the role of
critics is simple.
They make us think.
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