a critical credo

"To be the primary critic of a monopoly newspaper is an overwhelming role. You have to tread softly and be fully aware that your taste is not the only valid taste. All these years, I pasted in the front of my mind that there are many ways to be good." -- Joseph D. McLellan, late music critic of the Washington Post

This is one reason why I'm happier as a reviewer if I know I'm just one small voice: I'm freer to voice my own views without worrying about whether they're idiosyncratic. When you are the only reviewer covering something, like it or not you're the voice of record, and a fair-minded person in that position will weigh your reactions against other possible reactions (especially, in the case of performing arts, the rest of the audience). This is particularly challenging if you had a strongly negative reaction but were the only person in the audience to feel that way: in that case I try for a "more in sorrow than in anger" tone. But if that's my reaction and I'm only one voice in the wilderness, then let 'er rip.

One of many reasons why it's best not to have monopoly newspapers. Let a thousand outlets bloom.