Criticism
As time passes and the culture has changed (maybe devolved), film criticism seems less and less relevant. This form of journalism was for years restricted to professionals, or at least someone who was printed in the newspaper or town crier. I grew up watching Siskel and Ebert, and reading the likes of Vincent Canby, Sheila Benson, Archer Winsten, Kenneth Turan, Richard Schickel, and Pauline Kael. Real writers with informed opinions. Now any shlub with an Internet connection (that includes yours truly) can publish their thoughts on cinema. It has really cheapened this brand of writing and thinking. Who are the front line critics these days? Richard Roeper? People have always wondered if critics were necessary. Feeling that they could form their own opinions without being influenced by these ivory tower pundits. And that "it's all subjective". Well, how one feels about a film, song, book etc. is subjective. But whether something is cu...
