Critic: Role, Types, Methods, History and Notable Figures

Areas and subjects

• Food and dining: reviews of restaurants, chefs and menus (food criticism).
• Visual arts: painting, sculpture and exhibitions (art criticism).
• Music: composition, performance and recordings (music criticism).
• Theatre and performance: plays, dance and live shows (theatre criticism).
• Politics and public affairs: analysis of policies, rhetoric and institutions (political criticism).
• Television and streaming: series, episodes and broadcast trends (television criticism).
• Books and literature: novels, poetry and non‑fiction (literary criticism).
• Opinion and cultural commentary on taste, trends and values (cultural commentary).

Roles, criteria and methods

Critics use a mix of criteria when evaluating work: technical skill, originality, coherence, emotional or intellectual impact, and relevance to its genre or context. Methods include close reading, comparative analysis, historical framing and attention to craft. Good criticism distinguishes factual description from subjective judgement and often offers evidence or examples to support its claims. Ethical concerns—such as disclosing conflicts of interest, avoiding paid reviews, and respecting embargoes—are widely discussed within the profession.

Formats and platforms

Criticism appears in newspapers, magazines, academic journals, books, radio, television, podcasts and online outlets. The digital era broadened access: blogs, video essays and social media let many more voices be heard, while aggregation and comment sections create new conversations. This diversification has changed how influence is measured and how critics interact with audiences.

History and influence

Critical writing has roots in ancient rhetorical and literary commentary and developed through salons, periodicals and newspapers into a recognized profession by the 19th and 20th centuries. Over time critics have shaped reputations, canon formation and consumer behavior. While some criticism aims at expert evaluation, other forms prioritize personal response or advocacy; both can affect public conversations about culture and policy.

Notable figures

• Roger Ebert — influential film critic and popularizer of film talk.
• Gene Siskel — film reviewer known for televised debates.
• Raymond Williams — cultural critic and scholar of media and society.
• Susan George — commentator on political economy and development.
• John Ruskin — 19th‑century art critic and social thinker.
• Rene Ricard — poet and critic active in late 20th‑century art circles.
• John Amis — music writer and broadcaster.
• Vladimir Vladimirovich Kara‑Murza — noted commentator on politics and human rights.
• George Bernard Shaw — playwright who also wrote influential cultural criticism.
• Robert Schumann — composer who contributed to musical writing and criticism.
• Pauline Kael — prominent film critic known for lively, personal prose.

Criticism remains a diverse field, balancing expertise with personal perspective. Whether serving readers, viewers, diners or citizens, critics continue to interpret experience and help audiences decide what to value and why.