All PostsAnd while I read a lot about negative criticism, I read less about the need for analytical criticism — an approach to reading in which the critic focuses on explanation over judgment. I think that if more of any type of criticism is needed it’s this. What matters to me is: does the critic help me to understand something about the comic I likely couldn’t/didn’t figure out myself? does the critic’s reading help me to pay attention to other comics in a new/different way? does the critic challenge conventional wisdom about reading/interpretation that goes beyond praise or condemnation and into thoughtful analysis? Often, if I come away from critical writing with one new concept or way of thinking, that’s enough. And a greater presence of writing that helps and encourages people to read comics carefully would, I hope, lead to something like the higher standards that the [negative criticism] proponents want.
Parille, Ken. “Needs-Based Criticism.” Blog Flume 13 July 2008.
I whole-heartedly agree with Parille on this issue. This is the type of criticism I hope to write (whether I am successful or not is not for me to say, though my column on a page from “Flies on the Ceiling” may be a half-decent example). Really great criticism lets you return to a work with fresh eyes, able to gain a new depth of understanding (be it emotional, formal, thematic, etc), or it gets the reader interesting in something new, which they can read with a starting point of interest and understanding. I’ve read a lot of criticism (film, literature, comics, music) which either got me very excited about some work/artist I’d never heard of (or previously dismissed) or got me excited to revisit some work previously seen/read. Most recently, Matthew Stearn’s book on Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation album got me listening to an old favorite with a new found interest and understanding. (Also check out his suggestions at the end of his post for more analytical criticism in The Comics Journal (or anywhere).)
Daydream Nation…
Does the fact that it’s coming up on twenty years since that album was released make you feel kind of old?
It does me, a little…
Well, I was pretty young when it came out. The first SY album I got “new” was Goo. But… hadn’t really thought about it being 20 years. It strange that some of the music I loved as a teen is now “classic.”
I guess I was only 11 when Nation was released…
Maybe it’s just having two kids…
Nice move importing these notes to the main blog page!
Hah. I was probably 11 too.
WordPress made importing surprisingly easy (it even brought along comments and images automagically!).