META: The Problem of Subjectivity
Andrew Burton
tuglyraisin at aol.com
Thu Mar 13 06:46:31 PDT 2008
Martin Phipps wrote:
> I concede that the usual definition of criticism involves "passing
> judgment" but "analyzing content" is also criticism. You can analyze
> the works of Shakespeare without dismissing any of them as "clunkers".
I can. "Romeo and Juliet" is boring and, per a discussion with a
co-worker/friend of mine, I find his understanding of teenagers woefully
lacking.
[snip]
> Pointing out errors _alone_ is not the same as making a value
> judgement. I can like a story and still find fault with it.
That said, making a value judgement is not the same as pointing out
errors. I can hate a story even when its logic is sound. I'm typically
more inclined to like stories that maintain an internal logic, but it's
not a 100% sure bet.
Getting back to what I assume is your thesis statement: objective
criticism is the best form of criticism; and by rebuttal: ain't no such
thing... In all those definitions of "criticism" I fail to see the word
"objective" used a single time, and I think that's because there ain't
no such thing.
--
Andrew Burton
tuglyraisin at aol.com
http://utilitarian.us - A Guide to Esoteric Technology in Paragon City
http://jarodrussell.livejournal.com/ - Take a guess. ;)
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