Legendary literary critic Harold Bloom once said: “In the finest critics one hears the full cry of the human. They tell one why it matters to read.”

That quote was said in a different world from today, one where someone like Bloom could still stir emotions, spark debate, and define and redefine what constitutes art worthy of consideration.

Criticism once enjoyed a prominent presence within every major publication worth reading, and many came to engage with the arguments put forward, absorb other perspectives, and, crucially, challenge orthodoxy. It was a relationship that elevated quality of thought and strengthened the public’s literacy when interpreting a creative piece.

That relationship has faded, drastically diluted by the pile-on voices of the internet, and controlled and dictated by friendly-faced public relations managers. Jumbled, compromised, and toothless.

We’re stuck in an infinite nostalgia loop… where is the culture of tomorrow?

Modern criticism must always justify itself, provide purpose for its continued existence in an out-of-step world. When a million voices can all be considered at once, and it coagulates together in the white noise of the internet, why should anyone care to listen to a critic? What makes the modern critic more worthy of being heard over the average punter who can also express themselves on the same........

© Herald Scotland