Richard

I am a sixth year student at the University of Georgia (That’s right, sixth!). I am only a couple of credit hours away from completing my graduate degree in journalism. I like to read, write, and give my opinion, which are all crucial facets to blogging and critical writing. I am a native Georgian, hailing from Macon, where I lived my entire life before leaving for college. Eventually I hope to find a journalism position that will pay me a lot of money to do very little (just kidding). I actually want to cover either politics or sports for a major news publication. Hopefully I am not too far away from this goal.

Read my Critic's Manifesto under "Read more!"

I believe the role of the critic is that of an informant to the public. The critic evaluates whether the general public should share in the same experience that the critic did. The critic does not tell the public what they must see, listen to, read, or eat, but the critic does give the public an idea of how they would recommend spending available time and resources. Whether members of the public heed the advice provided by the critic is ultimately up to them.

It is not the critic’s job to always be nice, but it is the critic’s job to always be fair. A good critic has to understand that life has enormous shades of gray and little black or white. Most productions, books, or restaurants are not always exceptional or not always terrible. Typically, they are ordinary, and their strengths and weaknesses should be reflected in the critical column. Occasionally, however, they are extraordinary, and if the critic wants the public to understand completely when such a situation has occurred, he or she must not resort to unnecessary hyperbole in ordinary situations.

Lastly, the critic must constantly be aware of the consequences of his or her actions. Some artists’ careers ride on what the critic has to say. Works should always be evaluated on the basis of the work itself, and not based upon previous negative experiences that the critic may have had with the artist. Critics should constantly be mindful of the positive role that their profession plays in the community, but just as equally be mindful of the dangerous results that could occur from a critic doing his or her job carelessly.

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Nora

I'm a student at the University of Georgia and will be graduating in May with bachelor's degrees in Spanish and journalism. A native of Jacksonville, FL, the thing I miss most about the Sunshine State is riding my bike on the beach.

However, watching a good movie always puts me in a good mood whether it is an 80s romance like Say Anything with cutie John Cusack (known as Johnny Q. by me and my friends) or a suspenseful thriller like Seven with the amazing Morgan Freeman and pretty-boy Brad Pitt.

I don't stop at American movies, though. After taking Diego del Pozo's class in Spanish film, I have become somewhat of an expert and love watching films in my mother's native tongue (she is so proud). Spanish film may not have all the action, but it's definitely packed with sentiment. I was first exposed to Pedro Almodovar's Volver in a Valencian theater during my summer in Spain and fell in love. Princesas and La Lengua de las Mariposas are among some of my Spanish favorites and as with Volver, can be found on shelves here in the U.S.

When it comes to TV, you won't find me glued to the screen especially since the days of Felicity are over. One Tree Hill has become my teen soap opera fix and I'll watch Law and Order: SVU and Medium on occasion. On my list, shows are penciled in, not written in stone.

Check out my Reviewer's Manifesto by clicking on "Read more!"

What is a reviewer exactly? A reviewer is a reporter with an opinion. Harsh or kind, they speak their mind and tell it like it is. They provide the facts based on their own perspective and experience and hold nothing back. They aren’t out to trick you or make a buck. Like a good friend, they should be someone you can trust. Their job is to evaluate and critique. They judge and interpret so we don’t have to.

As an authority figure, they are familiar with their subject and are able to analyze and evaluate artistic or literary works. Their specialty is writing how they feel about theses subjects backing their feelings up with descriptive facts. The better their identification of the subject being reviewed, the more detailed their description, and the clearer their summary, the quicker we are as the reader to trust their opinion.

They take the time so we don’t have to. They spend the money so we can save ours. A reviewer possesses the art of criticism and as a connoisseur they are our source for an informed interpretation of books, art, performances, movies, television and music.

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Taylor

I am graduating in May from the University of Georgia with a degree in Magazine Journalism. I've worked my way through college, so I am looking forward to taking a little break the summer after graduation to travel and put all of my time and energy into finding the perfect publishing job.

I love British culture and Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite movies. In fact, on my last trip, I traveled to Derbyshire and walked around Mr. Darcy's house. Some might call this obsessive, but I like to think of myself as passionate. Other favorites include Notting Hill, Love Actually, Wedding Crashers and August Rush.

As far as the boob tube goes, it's hard to find a quality sitcom nowadays. I've tried to sit through 30 Rock and My Name is Earl, but nothing compares to Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond. And, in my humble opinion, no drama will ever compare to Felicity. Putting those frustrations aside, One Tree Hill, Private Practice and the popular Dancing with the Stars are a regular fix on my TiVo.

Check out my Critic's Manifesto by clicking "read more."

Before taking Valerie Boyd's Critical Writing class, I didn't think much of the critic's role. However, after writing reviews for everything from a cello performance to the book Remember Me, I have more appreciation for critics everywhere. 

I think the critic's purpose is to serve an authoritative opinion on the matter at hand. I believe the critic should be upfront with any biases, as well as lack of knowledge concerning their topic.

I believe that the critic's review should reflect the tone of the subject.  If you're reviewing Superbad, the tone needs to be light and funny, just like the movie.  Great critics have the ability to  mimic the tone of the work they are reviewing.  

I believe that critics serve as the gatekeepers to the entertainment industry.  They decide what we should and should not spend our money on.  Their opinions direct our social lives, so every review should be honest and have an intelligent argument for or against the subject.   

To put it simply: the role of the critic is to be an honest figure of authority on a selected topic.

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Shaina

So, my name is Shaina. And I'm about to graduate from UGA's journalism school in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited. And I'm looking forward to working with the Walt Disney Company in August. My dreams will hopefully come true. :)

I've always been baffled by the future and I had a long discussion with my favorite roomie about life after seeing Horton Hears a Who. It was very intense. No joke.

I love movies. I probably should have gotten into the film industry in one way or another, but who knows, maybe I will one day. My favorite movies are Disney movies. I'm big on animation. And there is nothing better to me than the original cel-animation. Things just aren't what they used to be. Maybe I'm just nostalgic. I LOVE Broadway and think the movie-musicals including Sweeney Todd and Phantom of the Opera are wonderful despite what critics think. They need to be taken in their own right and are beautifully done. Now, they just need to make Wicked into a movie. Gotta love the romantic comedies: 27 Dresses & The Wedding Planner. Leonardo DiCaprio films are always a winner with me: The Departed, Blood Diamond.

If it's good. I like it. And I may get a lot of flack for this, but I LOATHE Will Ferrell films. I'm very picky about my humor and he is not where it's at. All right. I'm ready to take the beatings from the public.

I also enjoy photograhy and travel. I hope to travel around the world and document everything. And it would be so cool to do a voiceover for a cartoon character.

Click to read my Critic's Manifesto...

Inform. Entertain. Enlighten. Know their audience. Cater to diverse groups of people. Write with authority. Maintain credibility. Write fairly. Remain upfront. Listen. Be creative. Have fun.

Nowadays, critics have the difficult job of presenting their audiences with unbiased opinions on music, movies, sports, et cetera. Writing a review takes a lot of work and readers should understand that if a critic gives a negative review on their favorite book (for instance) that they shouldn't get offended; they're just doing their job. By researching, observing and analyzing, the critic is trying to provide the reader with the best information possible (maybe even at their own expense in enjoying whatever they're reviewing). It's also their job to present the information at hand in a new light, which isn't always easy. It can definitely be a challenge when you're trying to put a fresh spin on the millionth Italian restaurant review you've written.

Critcs should infiltrate their views without belittling their audience. The reader along with the subject being reviewed look to them for advice, so kindness and understanding are key elements. The critic is providing a service not force-feeding information (hopefully). Authority shouldn't equal arrogance. Read more!