The New Yorker's Alex Ross on the decline of arts criticism

THE FATE OF THE CRITIC IN THE CLICKBAIT AGE
by Alex Ross, The New Yorker, March 13, 2017

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Richard Schickel, 84

Richard Schickel, Critic and Filmmaker, Dies at 84
by Sam Roberts, The New York Times, February 20, 2017

Coming in January: free Writers Circle for POC arts writers

Sign up for my free dance and performance WRITERS CIRCLE sponsored by FABnyc, starting in January!

Are you dissatisfied with the state of critical writing about dance and performance? Writers Circle supports artists of color, across the spectrum of movement-based performing arts, as they practice and share clear, effective writing in response to performance. Previous writing on the arts is not required, but you should have basic facility with written expression.

East Village locations. For complete schedule and location details and to sign up, click here.

This workshop is part of FAB’s year-long series, The Sustainable Artist Toolkit.

Free email subscription

to InfiniteBody

Click here!

John Gruen, 89

John Gruen, Cultural Renaissance Man, Dies at 89
by Margalit Fox, The New York Times, July 19, 2016

Geoffrey H. Hartman, 86

Geoffrey H. Hartman, Scholar Who Saw Literary Criticism as Art, Dies at 86
by Margalit Fox, The New York Times, March 20, 2016

American dance criticism: RIP?

The Death of the American Dance Critic
Why are there so few mainstream outlets covering the art form?
by Madison Mainwaring, The Atlantic, August 6, 2015

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My comment:

If mainstream dance criticism is dead, the appropriate question is: What's next? Not all dance blogs are ballet-centric or inaccessible in language. Mainwaring could have explored a little further and discovered US dance writing in venues like The Brooklyn Rail and my own blog, InfiniteBody, that continues sensitive observation, documentation, analysis and sharing of meaningful experiences with dance. Dance writing in mainstream media has withered, yes, for all of the reasons that Mainwaring details, but dance writers are still out here, using our knowledge and skills in service to an art we greatly respect and love. We would appreciate your acknowledgement and support.

Richard Corliss, 71

Richard Corliss, 71, Longtime Film Critic for Time, Dies
by Bruce Weber, The New York Times, April 24, 2015

Andrew Porter, 86

Andrew Porter, New Yorker Classical Music Critic, Dies at 86
by Margalit Fox, The New York Times, April 3, 2015

New York Times now has zero Black culture writers

Following Layoffs, NYT Culture Section Devoid Of Black Reporters
by Jackson O'Connor, The Huffington Post, December 19, 2014

New York Times shows veteran music critic the door

A terrible mistake at the New York Times
by Norman Lebrecht, The New York Times, December 18, 2014

Richard Eder, 82

Richard Eder, Arts Critic and Foreign Correspondent, Dies at 82
by Bruce Weber, The New York Times, November 21, 2014

Charles Champlin, 88

Charles Champlin, Critic and Memoirist, Dies at 88
by Bruce Weber, The New York Times, November 18, 2014

Doris Hering, 94

Doris Hering, Dance Critic and Champion, Dies at 94
by Jack Anderson, The New York Times, October 26, 2014

Arthur Gelb, 90

Arthur Gelb, Critic and Editor Who Shaped The Times, Dies at 90
by Sam Roberts, The New York Times, May 20, 2014

Marion Lignana Rosenberg, 51 [UPDATE]

Marion Lignana Rosenberg, 1961-2013

by Lawrence A. Johnson, The Classical Review, December 3, 2013

Marion Lignana Rosenberg, Writer and Classical Music Critic, Dies at 51

by Brian Wise, WQXR Operavore, December 2. 2013

Stanley Kauffmann, 97

Stanley Kauffmann, Critic, Dies at 97; Spent a Half-Century at the Movies

by William Grimes, The New York Times, October 9, 2013

Becoming Holland Cotter: poetry in words and images

Finding Poetry on the Page and, Later, on the Canvas
An Art Critic Is First Inspired by Words
by Holland Cotter, The New York Times, August 14, 2013

Arts journalists, critics invited to "Speaking Circus": contemporary circus in perspective

You’re fluent in theater and dance. You speak Beckett, Pinter, Graham and Ailey. But what about circus? Is the only circus-ease in your vocabulary “clown” and “three-ring”?

Circus Now 

invites you to

SPEAKING CIRCUS

An exploration of ways to think about the contemporary circus.

Inspired by Unpack the Arts (the European Residency Programme for Cultural Journalists), Speaking Circus will follow a contemporary circus performance with discussions and presentations about contemporary circus history, disciplines and influences.  The primary focus of this event is a half-day long seminar. You are encouraged to view the performance the previous evening, as it will be referenced in some of the panels.

PRESENTERS

Joe Melillo (Executive Producer at BAM), Duncan Wall (author of The Ordinary Acrobat), Karen Fricker (theater critic and professor at Brock University), Mary Rose Lloyd (Director of Artistic Programming at The New Victory Theater), Monique Martin (Director of Family Programming at City Parks Foundation), Lotta Vaulo (Managing Director of Circus Info Finland), members of the Race Horse Company and Suzi Winson (founder of Circus Warehouse).

WHEN AND WHERE

Presentations, discussion and lunch

Wednesday, August 21, 10am-3pm

New 42nd Street® Studios building
229 West 42nd Street, LuEsther T. Mertz Board Room, 9th Floor, Manhattan
(map/directions)

***

Performances by Race Horse Company, AcroArts, FAQ, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus andHybrid Movement Company

Tuesday, August 20, 7pm

Wednesday, August 21, 7pm

Marcus Garvey Park
Madison Ave, East 120th Street to East 124 Street, Manhattan
(map/directions)

***

WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS?

Contemporary Circus refers to any performance that uses traditional circus skills to emotionally, intellectually and viscerally engage audiences. It is extremely popular in Europe, Canada and Australia - and now the U.S. is catching up. We haven’t seen this much enthusiasm and innovation in American circuses since the Ringling Brothers started traveling by train. A massive scene is happening right under America’s feet and Circus Now wants to give you the scoop.

Sherri Kronfeld: Should theater makers critique theater?

Many thanks to my colleague in Philadelphia, Lisa Kraus of thINKingDANCE, for recommending this piece. 

Where is our Tiki Barber? Theater Makers As Theater Critics
by Sherri Kronfeld, HowlRound, July 22, 2012

Met Opera won't ban reviews by Opera News

Met Reverses Itself on Ban of Reviews by Opera News
by Daniel J. Wakin, The New York Times, May 22, 2012