The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09
FUNCTION OF NEWSPAPER
CRITICS.


FUNCTION OF NEWSPAPER
CRITICS.
Some one has questioned the value
and propriety of a newspapers musical
and dramatic criticism on the ground
that any review of concert, opera or
play is only lone mans opinion" But
the best criticism. the only criticism
! really worthy of the name, is much
more than that. It is to be sure one
mans opinion but that opinion is based
on a wide and thorough knowledge of
the subject, natural and cultivated crit
| fcal taste and excellent artistic judg-
ment. IF a writer has not all of these
qualifications he is not a critic and
has no right to pose as such. A clever
writer without the preparation neces-
sary to the critics profession may give
a clever and readable account of an
entertainment and may Undue it with
humor or pathos. according to his in
| spiration, but his article is not vaIu-
able as criticism.
It is not criticism, properly speaking,
but is merely one mans opinion and as
such its only claim to distinction is the
| writer's originality of view and ex-
preston. If he lacks these his STORY
| is positively worthless to any newspa-
per and the readers time is worse
than wasted. But to argue that because
there are SO many ignorant and badly
equipped writer's who fill the columns
| of the newspapers with their unryIo-
mentous opinions of music and the
drama, musical and dramatic critics
have no right to exist has no founda-
ton in Justice. The function of these
| critics is as legitimate and as import
ant as that of literary critic whose
determination has never been suggest
ed, possibly because all authors are
! themselves critics of the work OF other
authors and would not willingly forego
the pleasure they find in telling of the
virtues and defects of what they read.
The musical and dramatic critics how
ever, are very seldom musicians or ac-
tors and between the two professions
much ennity and unfriendliness has
always existed. This is unfortunate
and should be impossible. It would be
if each held the highest view of his
duties and responsibilities and had 8
just appreciation of the art of the
other.
H. E. Krehbiel, one of the ablest and
most scholarly musical critics in Amer
! lea, says that the function of the critic
he is speaking of the musical critic
but his remarks apply with equal force
to the literary and dramatic reviewer
is to educate the public. He should
have, says Mr.. KrehbieI, profound
knowledge of his subject and a min6
big enough to eliminate all petty preju.
dices and to take a purely impersona
view of performer and performance
With all this he should aim not to seel
faults only but rather to find something
to admire. Not that he should overlook
the defects or indulge in rhapsodii
praise, but the spirit OF his review
should indicate clearly a friendly rather
than an unfriendly attitude. George
AIDE tells about the critic who takes hi
hammer to the concert and defies thu
artist to come out and make good
This is the normal attitude of too man!
writer's of musical and dramatic events
They seem to understand only half thu
meaning of the verb criticise and hav'
a mistaken notion that criticism is no
criticism unless it is unfriendly wherea!
it only fails of its purpose when /
shows a lack of correct information
discriminating taste and good judg
ment.
SInau newspapers can seldom dIIOT(
the services of a critic of reputation AM
standing and the work of reviewing
concert and play falls to almost an!
unframed reporter with taste for mu
sic and drama. But Of such materia
some of the best critics have been mad'
and If the young writer approach hi
task with the proper spirit, inquiry
willingness to learn, honesty and sin
cerity; if he scorn the methods of tn
average fellow worker and never thinks
to make f1owery rhetoric, alleged hume
or assumed cynicisTn hide his Ignorance
and incompetence his work may be
pleasure and an education to himsel
and no disgrace to criticism. BY study
observation and the exercise of tn
faculty of comparison he may fit him
self for his work in it's very perform
ance so that his professional judgmen
shall be not merely a mans opinion
but the verdict of an authority thor
oughly acquainted with his subject an
in every way fitted to express tia mai
whose opinion may be relied upon a
honest and unbiased, equally incapabl
of malice or pretense.
:
: BY ANOTHER MACHINE.o