Everyone’s a critic nowadays. Or a troll.
Actress Kelly Marie Tran has deleted her Instagram posts following months of abuse. Tran has been the subject of online abuse since she appeared as Rose Tico, the scrappy Resistance hero in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The film was a critical and box office success. Critics and fans praised the visual effects, action sequences, and emotional weight. But Tran’s attackers are a vocal minority who don’t like where the franchise is going.
These basement-dwellers don’t like that the president of Lucasfilm is a woman (her name is Kathleen Kennedy, by the way). They don’t like the the diversity, emotional nuance, and progressive ideals of this Star Wars sequel trilogy. These turds say that they are fans simply critiquing and expressing their dislike. Let’s pretend that’s true.
Here’s a short guide to how to be a critic without being a racist, sexist neckbeard.
Dislike and insults aren’t critiques. They’re not criticism either.
Although critique and criticism are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. A critique is a disciplined and systematic evaluation. Critique is usually reserved for academia, philosophy, and profound writing. Criticism is also an evaluative exercise and it can be highly specialised and technical, requiring subject matter expertise by both the critic and the person engaging with the criticism.
Semantic arguments aside, the point is that critique and criticism study, evaluate, and interpret, highlighting both the shortcomings and the strengths of a work of art. Good criticism is timely, relevant, precise, well-researched, persuasive, and actionable. The best critiques and criticisms also examines the piece within the context of culture.
If you want to read great criticism, Pulitzer Prize winning criticism, read Jerry Saltz. Here’s a sample from his review of the documentary Finding Vivian Maier:
Now, in the absorbing 83-minute documentary Finding Vivian Maier, Maloof and co-director Charlie Siskel peel back her layers, allowing us to see where her creative universe came from, how she functioned, what she made. Much of the film is made up of straightforward interviews with her former employers interspersed with wonderful visuals: Maloof laying out all of Maier’s stuff on the floor or describing his attempts to track her down, and a great array of her amazing pictures. Working as a nanny in the Chicago area, Maier found positions where she could be taken care of so that she could take care of her art. She was a servant of her talent, compelled to use her servitude to make what she needed to make.
For contrast, here is bad criticism. These are reviews of The Last Jedi posted on Rotten Tomatoes by manbabies:
Over politicized [sic] piece of junk -Matt C
A steaming pile of garbage -GridPoet W
Main Stream/Communist Propaganda with star wars in the title -Dan Z
Rian Johnson leaves us with a emotionless story with little depth. The characters are unbelievable. Poor attempts at humor are thrown in at critical points in the story. I felt like I was watching a burning bag of dog crap! Thx! This made, The Force Awakens, look like a good film. -Matt S
I went out from the theater a little empty -Xavier%20 E
See the difference?
Most critics praised The Last Jedi, but here’s what a review from a critic that didn’t love it looks like:
In particular, he lets his writing—or, rather, his plotting—take control of him. It doesn’t run away with him (as in his 2012 movie, “Looper”), but, rather, it dominates him, both technically and emotionally. Throughout “The Last Jedi,” twist after twist, touch after touch, line after line has the feel of the compulsory, of homework done elaborately, with extreme labor.
You can read Richard Brody’s entire review on The New Yorker. We can’t all write like Jerry Saltz or Richard Brody, but it’s good to have goals.
Don’t be a racist, sexist dude-bro
This one is easier than the critique versus criticism thing.
If you are directing prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism at a person because of their race, that’s racism. Don’t do that.
If you are directing prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism at a woman because she is a woman, that’s sexist. Don’t do that.
If you mocking Tran’s appearance for any other reason, that’s being a jerk. Don’t do that.
More tips on how to be a good critic
- Offer criticism that is meant to help.
- Focus on the work, not the person.
- Be specific and clear.
- Mention what you liked and what you learned.
- Be kind.
And keep in mind, your criticism doesn’t have to be taken on board. Learn to live with that. And if your suggestion is to “reverse this forced diversity” and “bring back the Straight White Male Hero”, well, you half-witted Nerf herder, you’ve got some catching up, and some growing up, to do.
What’s not to love?#GetALifeNerds pic.twitter.com/k1sa0X1qpg
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) June 6, 2018
