Reviewing the Arts

Reviewing the arts is an important process and requires critical thought. Campbell Titchener’s reviewing the arts article describes five elements in writing successfully and I would recommend using his method. A strong opening, closing, identification, summary and opinion are all important elements in writing a solid review. Although personal opinion is important, I also it’s important to not get carried away. That makes the whole piece sound biased. Even with my opinion adding the other side always makes things more credible.
To truly review the arts one must experience the arts. A reviewer cannot form a view by hearing one track, tasting one dish, seeing half a performance, or seeing one work of art. As a reviewer it is important to immerse myself in the subject I am writing about. I cannot only review things I’m familiar with or only things I enjoy. That would be too easy as well as too one sided. Like Laura Kipinis in “(Male) Desire and (Female) Disgust: Reading Hustler” it is important to review things even I despise.
In her review of the pornographic magazine Kipinis states “any automatic assumptions about Hustler-variety porn aide and abetting the entrenchment of male power might be put into question by actually reading the magazine.” This coming from a feminist who had wanted to review the magazine several times before, always unable to out of disgust. Sometimes unfounded assumptions get in the way of understanding an art form. Every form of art is worth being reviewed. I have to go at a review with an open mind and try to understand.
Professional reviews are important to maintain and set apart from user-generated reviews on sites like Yelp. Professionals review everything. The space, the audience, the work, the timing, everything. User generated reviews are solely based on opinion and personal experience ignoring more of the elements. This type of review is good if you just want feedback on where to grab a bite to eat, but if you really want quality a professional review will be much more beneficial.
To review the arts it’s important to be able to set up for a mixed amount of knowledge beforehand. When I reviewed Dave Chappelles Block Party for example, I knew nothing about Dave except his name. If not for background readings on what was going on at the time of his departure from his successful show I would of thought that Block Party was simply a concert movie. Instead it was about uniting people together from all walks of life and to celebrate hip-hops underground artists. If you know something before reviewing it the overall work will be benefited by being able to compare it to previous works.
I’ve really learned a lot about reviewing the arts. I realize now that most reviewers don’t have a choice on where they go or what they review which is something I struggled with at the beginning. I’ve also realized that it’s good to read other notable reviewers work to learn other ways of writing and take something from each of them.
I’ve learned to take user generated reviews with a grain of salt. Some of those can easily be from the source being reviewed itself. Open mindedness and critical thinking are two elements to making a case in a review. Links, photos, and videos to other sites also make a review successful so the reader can look further into things themselves and explore a topic in greater length. I have a greater understanding and appreciation of reviews and will continue to write them.