Timeout Roundtable Reaction

After reading the Timeout piece Donna Seaman seemed to stand out. From the get-go Donna states that to be a qualified critic one must have "passion first and foremost, you must find consolation in the art you dedicate yourself to and devote your critical attention out of hunger for what books or music or, literally, food grants you." This quote rings true because without passion, reading a critic's work would be dull and uninteresting. Seaman's emphasis on devoting your attention to what you are reviewing is also an incredibly important idea that she words very nicely.

The next bit of truth that Seaman brings up is the need for an "urge to share one's enthusiasms...to advocate." This enthusiasm is what truly sets critics apart from most people. After seeing a movie they love the average viewer will rave about it for a while to some close friends but forget it soon enough. A critic on the other hand has a burning desire to share their passionate love (or equally as powerful, hate) for said piece of art. Without this desire to help others spend their time and money wisely, critics as we know them today wouldn't exist.
Seaman's next powerful point it that "a critic has to be able to imagine many responses, and see the experience in a greater context." This is one of the primary reasons that Roger Ebert's reviews are so fascinating. He manages to both communicate his own experience of the film while also remaining open to the possibility that others will have a totally different experience of the film. He does this by both explaining a simple plot of the film as well as giving the reader a feel for what the experience of the film is like. In his review of The Mechanic Ebert manages to both express his distaste for the film while still leaving room for the possibility that people who enjoy violent, action driven thrillers might enjoy the film a lot. It is this ability that sets many of his reviews apart from his peers.

One of Seaman's final and arguably most powerful points is the idea of a critic having a solid track record. When a critic has been around for a substantial amount of time, this greatly increases both their reliability and their validity as a source of criticism. When a critic has shown time and again that they are reliable in their reviews, they are able to earn the trust of the reader on a much deeper level. An intelligent reader can usually see when a critic truly believes in their opinion or whether they are endorsing something because it's what is new and exciting. The critics with the most staying power tend to be the ones who are able to maintain the same rigorous filter throughout the passage of time.

Seaman's thoughtful approach to her role as a critic is what makes her stand out above the rest. She approaches her job with a series of rules and morals that allow the reader to trust her. She recognizes that along with passion, enthusiasm and staying power, a critic must always remain trustworthy and reliable.