Reviewing (and critiquing) a Review

I so love this seminar! Thank you for all coming together like this for our discussions and sharings.

I thought the discussion of Tedrin Lindsay’s review of the Lexington Philharmonic’s concert with Midori was very helpful. I wish I had taken more thorough notes, since we looked at that review—as well as the bigger issues of the function or reviews, the qualifications and responsibilities of the critic, the unique circumstances of each performance, etc.—from so many perspectives, that it would be useful to have the notes from the discussion as a guide. True there are so many variables and points to consider, that it can be complicated, if not agonizing, to decide on just how to write any given review, but I think it very important to be cognizant of the issues, then one can just let go and write!

Thank you, Daniel, for providing the link to the piece on Donald Rosenberg’s situation in Cleveland, since that adds another layer of complexity to the mix, i.e., not just what YOU want to write as a critic, but the consequences of maintaining a position that is unpopular with “the powers that be.”

From a Buddhist perspective we can all be working on uncovering our natural wisdom and compassion; yet, there is a third element that is essential: skillful means! How can we express ourselves in ways that will be effective and helpful? Mindful speech should be: truthful, helpful, kind, and timely. Should reviews be a kind of speech that would include some or all of these? How would we do that?