What is the real role of the critic? Above all, it is to be genuine. What good is a critic if they don’t tell the truth? With so many options of media to consume today, relying on reviews is necessary in order to make decisions that won’t waste your time. However, in order to do this, the reviewer must be honest, factual, and thoughtful. What is the point of being a critic if you cater to other’s opinions or expectations? Don’t write with an attempt to please others; the review must be truthful in order to be of any worth. An honest critic is valuable and useful when you have a million choices of what to watch, where to eat, and what to read at all times. A trusted opinion goes a long way when wading through the myriad of media available at any second.

Capturing the essence of something and conveying it (good or bad) to an audience is key to being a critic. However, what’s even better than that is being able to take it a step further: make deeper connections when writing. Be thoughtful. Look deeper and think harder for details and nuances in the media being consumed. A well-thought opinion is more credible than a fleeting feeling. Sure, anyone can voice an opinion, but writing a successful review takes effort.

Another take-away from this class is that reviewing is a craft that spurs from personal experience; it’s unique to the individual. We all have different tastes, different experiences, different traits that make us inclined to like or dislike certain things. What’s important is to recognize our personalities and express them, rather than hide them, while being a critic. We must make sure we stay true to ourselves, our thoughts, our tastes, but also to provide real examples and facts.