Is Critical Analysis Just Fault-Finding?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the misconceptions surrounding the role of a critic, emphasizing that critical analysis extends beyond mere fault-finding. The author outlines three essential duties of a critic: to write with the skill of a novelist or playwright, to educate by building upon classroom knowledge, and to think critically about broader societal and philosophical contexts. Participants debate the qualities deemed essential for effective critique, ultimately concluding that "C Matter-of-fact attitude" was not mentioned as necessary by the author.

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Literary critics, educators, students of the liberal arts, and anyone interested in understanding the deeper responsibilities of critique in literature and art.

  • #31
dipole said:
Everybody shut up and give me an equation dammit. :mad:

:smile:
 
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  • #32
MarcoD said:
Personally, I still think there case for original thinking is still pretty weak. I mean 1), a novelist or playwright implies original thinking? It's more often effective use of style and themes, there are not a lot of original works. Or 3) a thinker who looks beyond his own field? Just reading the newspaper regularly doesn't make you an original thinker.
3.) definitely implies original thinking: thinking outside the paradigm of the subject at hand. "His subject" doesn't mean his field, it means the subject he is writing about. It says a good critic can connect whatever specific thing he's discussing to larger social, historical, and philosophical considerations, for example.
 
  • #33
MarcoD said:
Personally, I still think there case for original thinking is still pretty weak. I mean 1), a novelist or playwright implies original thinking? It's more often effective use of style and themes, there are not a lot of original works.

That's technically true, but you can still follow the formula and fail. You have to put things together in an original way sooner or later.

A large part of this is not being a textualist, though. Rather, it's guessing what the writer meant.
 

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