Post by ernesto thaddeus m. solmerano on Jun 24, 2007 23:42:29 GMT -5
The Nature of Criticism
What is your notion of the word criticism?
The commonest meaning of criticism in everyday talk is something like “finding fault.” And to be critical is to be censorious.
Quote on Criticism
Any fool can criticize, and many of them do. - Jesus Q. Cruz
A good critic can see excellences as well as faults.
The Value of Criticism
Because we turn to criticism with the hope that the critic has seen something we have missed, the most valuable criticism is not that which shakes its finger at faults but that which calls our attention to interesting things going on in the work of art.
Quote on Criticism
They wholly mistake the nature of criticism who think its business is principally to find fault. Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is, to observe those excellences which should delight a reasonable reader. - John Dryden (1631-1700)
Quote on Criticism
What is the function of a critic? So far as I am concerned, he can do me one or more of the following services:
1. Introduce me to authors or works of which I was hitherto unaware.
2. Convince me that I have undervalued an author or a work because I had not read them carefully enough.
3. Show me relations between works of different ages and cultures which I could never have seen for myself because I do not know enough and never shall.
4. Give a “reading” of a work which increases my understanding of it.
5. Throw light upon the process of artistic “Making.”
6. Throw light upon the relation of art to life, science, economics, ethics, religion, etc. - W.H. Auden (1907-1973)
Dryden’s Point
Dryden is chiefly concerned with literature as a means of delight, and his criticism aims at increasing the delight we can get from literature.
Auden’s Aim
Auden does not neglect this delight, but he extends (especially the sixth point) the range of criticism to include topics beyond the literary work itself.
The Emphasis of Both Dryden and Auden on Criticism
In their view of criticism, both Dryden and Auden give emphasis to the following:
::)1. Observing
;D2. Showing
;)3. Illuminating
What is your notion of the word criticism?
The commonest meaning of criticism in everyday talk is something like “finding fault.” And to be critical is to be censorious.
Quote on Criticism
Any fool can criticize, and many of them do. - Jesus Q. Cruz
A good critic can see excellences as well as faults.
The Value of Criticism
Because we turn to criticism with the hope that the critic has seen something we have missed, the most valuable criticism is not that which shakes its finger at faults but that which calls our attention to interesting things going on in the work of art.
Quote on Criticism
They wholly mistake the nature of criticism who think its business is principally to find fault. Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is, to observe those excellences which should delight a reasonable reader. - John Dryden (1631-1700)
Quote on Criticism
What is the function of a critic? So far as I am concerned, he can do me one or more of the following services:
1. Introduce me to authors or works of which I was hitherto unaware.
2. Convince me that I have undervalued an author or a work because I had not read them carefully enough.
3. Show me relations between works of different ages and cultures which I could never have seen for myself because I do not know enough and never shall.
4. Give a “reading” of a work which increases my understanding of it.
5. Throw light upon the process of artistic “Making.”
6. Throw light upon the relation of art to life, science, economics, ethics, religion, etc. - W.H. Auden (1907-1973)
Dryden’s Point
Dryden is chiefly concerned with literature as a means of delight, and his criticism aims at increasing the delight we can get from literature.
Auden’s Aim
Auden does not neglect this delight, but he extends (especially the sixth point) the range of criticism to include topics beyond the literary work itself.
The Emphasis of Both Dryden and Auden on Criticism
In their view of criticism, both Dryden and Auden give emphasis to the following:
::)1. Observing
;D2. Showing
;)3. Illuminating