Village Voice

Critical Commentary/Review: “Writing the Record” — Making Rock Criticism Safe for the Seminar Room

May 14, 2013
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Any American arts critic worth his or her salt is part of a bohemian fringe, is aware of the political resonance of reviews, and is dedicated to sparking serious dialogue about arts and culture.

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Arts Commentary: Can Criticism Be Too Positive Too Often?

June 9, 2011
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How much do you really know about a critic if all you have on record is what he or she likes and why? At some point staying mum about the negative looks less like tenderhearted support or good manners and more like cowardice or a lack of seriousness. By Bill Marx The news that veteran,…

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Fuse Critical Commentary: The non-criticism of @Discographies

December 28, 2010
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@Discographies is closer to marketing jingles or consumer guide advice than it is to reviewing—the exercise is fun but limited because it deals with the least valuable part of criticism: the opinion, the verdict. By Bill Marx. Further tongue-in-cheek (?) proof that the traditional conception of arts criticism—that there’s a difference between critical judgment and…

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