I reject the model of traditional film criticism. First of all – what is the point of writing about a film you didn’t like (which is what most critics tend to do) when we all know that preference and perception wildly varies? And second – a journalist with no filmmaking experience has no business judging a film in the first place.
A critic would immediately object to this statement by concluding that if having had specific training in the craft is the condition for being in a position to label a film as “bad”, then someone who has never actually made a film cannot say it is “good” either.
The point is that both views are – obviously – opinions, but I just don’t understand why you would want to bother people with your negative reading of a film.
My suspicion is that most critics think of themselves as “Guardians of Good Taste”, burdened with protecting the lesser-enlightened filmgoers against what they perceive to be inferior material. I am not making this up – I once read a review by an extremely arrogant Dutch critic who specifically told his (few) readers not to go see a particular film, because he felt it was his responsibility to warn them.
That’s right – I do read the reviews, but it is mostly to fuel my No. Bad. Films. conviction. My initiative to only write about the films we love, was inspired by the realization that most critics appear to write reviews mostly for themselves and other critics – or wannabees – and make the fundamental mistake of confusing their personal preferences with those of the entire world.
Let’s be honest – does anybody really believe people will first consult a critic before deciding whether or not to watch a particular film or series? Of course not. The majority of the audience will make up their own mind, and that is the way it should be. Some might listen to friends and family for tips, or possibly consult a rating on IMDb – which, by the way, is just as meaningless as a critic’s review – but in today’s highly interactive society, people will ultimately decide for themselves.
So, who do I write my stuff for? Well, I am definitely not trying to convince anybody, nor am I dispensing unwanted advice. What I am attempting though, is to put into words why a particular film meant so much to me, and I wholeheartedly encourage others to follow suit.
Every single film deserves to be seen and has at least one fan. It is perfectly all right to dislike a film, but I fundamentally disagree with the notion that this is anything more than an opinion. There is no objective truth in the appreciation of art – it is a deeply personal matter that all viewers must explore on their own.
This – admittedly – radical point of view effectively renders traditional film criticism obsolete. It is, of course, not for me to determine the validity of any branch of journalism, but I do feel that the authoritative judging of art specifically is an archaic principle.
I strongly believe that art should be nothing but celebrated. If you don’t have something positive to say about any artistic expression, what is the point of saying anything at all?
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Twitter (X): Robin Logjes | The Screen Addict