distressing news

[Jessika Aguilar]

Genevra Gerhart wrote:
I have always thought that "making value judgments on what constitutes goodvs bad in art" is, in fact, the only thing a literary  critic _could_ do.What the h. else were they put on earth to do?
 
I can't speak for anyone else, but I consider my job as a critic to be the creation/discovery of meaning in art.  I find ways to make cultural and artistic works more interesting by looking for patterns and setting them into broader contexts.  
 
What gives literary critics the right to make value judgments about art?  It it that we have more education?  That we are just so much smarter than everyone else?  We are horrified when governments try to impose their vision of "good"/socially beneficial art onto society, yet what makes what we do any different when we pass judgment about "good" and "bad" art?  I think it is fairly arrogant to think that all society should be subjected to the tyranny of one subset's opinion.   



> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:22:04 -0700> From: ggerhart at COMCAST.NET> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] distressing news> To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > Jessica wrote:> > But then I have something of an aversion to passing value judgements > > on culture, it seems a little snobbish to think that we (academics) > > can judge what constitutes good vs bad in art.  It feels limiting and > > restrictive, just my opinion.....> > I have always thought that "making value judgments on what constitutes good> vs bad in art" is, in fact, the only thing a literary  critic _could_ do.> What the h. else were they put on earth to do?> > >  > ggerhart at comcast.net>  > www.genevragerhart.com> www.russiancommonknowledge.com>  > > -----Original Message-----> From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list> [mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU] On Behalf Of Christopher Lemelin> Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:10 PM> To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] distressing news> > A quick correction.  Les Miserables was originally written (in  > French) by composer Claude-Michel Schoenberg and librettist Alain  > Boubil.  The English version was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and  > the English lyrics were adapted by Herbert Kretzmer.> > In my humble opinion--and by the way, I agree with others that ALW's  > early musicals are far superior to his later ones--Les Mis is an  > incredible achievement, rivaling a great opera.> > CWL> > ========================> Christopher W. Lemelin> Assistant Professor of Russian> Dickinson College> lemelinc at dickinson.edu> > (On sabbatical 2006-2007)> > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------->  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:>                     http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/> -------------------------------------------------------------------------> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------->  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:>                     http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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