MAC 318- Broadcast, Commentary and Critical Writing

Main Content 3.1 Definition of Critical Writing Criticism is an appraisal, evaluation or judgment offered on a piece of art, performance or production- which may be positive, negative or both. Criticism implies a deeper knowledge of the art, performance or production under consideration; it also implies an understanding of the standards of measurement. C. T. Winchester (Wolseley, 1973), one of the classic writers on the subject defines criticism as: “the intelligent appreciation of any work of art, and by consequence, the just estimate of its value and rank” and “the general nature of the functions of criticism is much the same whether the object criticised be literature, or painting, or sculpture, or painting”. Wilson (2000) says critical writing is the literary art of assessing or examining the merit of any work or art and giving judgment on it; an art which is employed in the textual criticism of books, artistic and aesthetic appreciation of plays, movies, music, creative and fine arts and other public events. It, usually, involves a detailed critical examination, marked by careful attention to the history, origin (an inward look at its type) set against standards that seem universal. Pope (2002: 43) identifies four basic meanings of criticism, namely: 1. finding fault and pulling to pieces [the text] in a negative sense 2. analysing and pulling to pieces [the text] in the neutral sense of taking apart 3. interpreting [the text] with a view to establishing [its] meaning and understanding 4. evaluating [the text] with a view to establishing [its] relative or absolute worth. Critical writing, then, is the writing of essays and articles either for broadcast or publication which appreciates and judges the arts. It is an expression of opinion which may be positive or negative.