Bite-Sized Critiques & Reviews
Practicing criticism as a mode for slowing down my consumption.
I’m thinking about literary criticism as applied to both books and pop culture a lot these days, in part because we’re gearing up to teach a class on How to Engage with Literary Criticism for
(May 8th @ 7 pm ET), in part because my friend and co-host has recently shared excellent pieces on the topic in her newsletter, and in part because I’m really into reading critical reviews, or listening to them via podcasts. I find the form of literary criticism (or cultural criticism) fascinating, and while I do not consider myself a literary critic in any formal sense, I am interested in flexing the muscles required for critical, nuanced commentary.As I consume less and less art—fewer TV shows, practically no movies, limited music, and a smaller-than-usual percentage of books—I welcome more thoughtful critique into my internet scrolling. My time is limited, and I want to make the most out of what I watch, listen to, and read. This applies to both using criticism to help me choose what’s next and engaging with criticism to extend the experience. Typically, I save newsletter reviews for the things I’m loving, but I’m ready to add more to the mix.
Between a flurry of less-than-flattering reviews for Taylor Swift’s new album, a scathing book review going viral, and a fast approaching summer reading season, it seems like the perfect time to practice the art of critique. Today, I’m sharing a brief review of a show I loved, a smattering of links plus commentary for a recent release I disliked, and jumbled thoughts on a book I adored but find difficult to review.