The Art Critique

Evaluating is a piece of art. It is tricky because of our subjectivity to what constitutes beauty". Another thing to consider
would be the layers of interpretation that often accompany an art piece. Thus, a simple painting about a storm could be a
reflection of the artist's internal turmoil or struggle.

That does not mean, however, that you cannot anymore make a simple critique of an art work. For a basic critique, please note
the following guide questions

Guide Questions to Follow When Making an Art Critique

 What kind of artwork is it (painting, sculpture, installation art, etc)?

 What are the components and elements of the artwork that you see? What are the colors and media used?
 What was the artist's purpose and personal history?
 Is it consistent with the artist's own sense of style?
 What is the artwork trying to depict? If a painting, what kind? A portrait, a landscape, a still life?
 What were the obvious influences of the artist? What visual style/art movement is dominant in the artwork?
 What is the artwork trying to convey? o What makes the art work unique from the others? Is it ground breaking in any
way or does it merely follow a current trend?
 What is the artwork saying? How does it "speak to you? How were you affected?

The Performance Critique

Live performances a play, a concert, a recital, a musical, or a variety show - deserves a different kind of evaluation as it
is often done live. These are done live, there is a big chance of making mistakes during performances. To appreciate live shows
better, the following the are guide questions we can follow:

Guide Questions to Follow When Writing a Performance Critique

 What kind of performance is it? Is it a play, a concert, a recital, a musical, or a variety show?
 If it is a play, was it original, or an adaptation, or yet another version of an existing play?
 If it is an original, how was the script? If an adaptation, how did it deviate from the original? If it is another version, how
does it compare to the other versions?
 If it is a play, who were the characters, what is the plot and the setting? If it is a concert, who were performing? What
were the song pieces?
 How was the entertainment value? Were the audience glued to their seats, or did some of them leave halfway through
a performance?
 How were the technical aspects? The lights, the sounds, the special effects (smoke and shadows, etc.)? Do the lights
hit all parts of the stage, or are some parts hidden from the audience? Are the microphones working, or are some parts
of the dialog inaudible?
 How was the transition from one scene to the next?
 How were the costumes, props, sets and production design? Are they seamlessly done, do pieces of Styrofoam or
cardboard stick out from the wall, destroying the illusion? How were the individual performances? If a play, are the
characters believable? Which of them stood out? If a musical or a concert, were the singers on tune? Were they able
to hit the right notes? How was the choreography? Did some numbers fall flat? Who were the standouts? Which
performances are mediocre?
 Over-all was the performance worth the price of admission? Would you see it again, if given the chance?
The Movie Critique

Most people watch movies merely to be entertained, but the movie critique does more than that. Apart from the
watching movies to be entertained, the critic uses his/her keen senses of observation and rational mind to check for other
qualities such as aesthetic value and over-all production quality.

Guide Questions to Follow When Making a Movie Critique

 What is the movie all about? What is the plot?

 What is the film-maker's purpose?
 What is the movies genre? What are the conventions of that genre?
 How well did the movie execute the following production values:
 Cinematography (the artistry in the execution of shots, the brightness and contract of colors, the use of the
camera to evoke a specific tone or emotion)
 Acting (are the actors credible or are they miscast? Are the correct emotions conveyed or are the actors
over-acting or under-acting? Who are the best actors? The worst? Why?)
 Characters and characterization (how layered are the characters? Their motivations? Do they behave in a
believable way?)
 Script (Is the script tight, with very little errors in continuity or believability? Or is it full of clichés? Are the
dialogues witty, sharp, biting, or very cheesy?) o Costumes and designs (how much detail was given to the
costumes and props? Is the look accurate to the period or do the actors clothes look like they were made the
props team from a children's school play? What about the props?)
 Direction (did the director show a distinct sense of style, was the direction uninspired? Did the director come
up with a cohesive, well-made film, or an incoherent mess?)
 Special effects (are the special effects an integral part of story-telling and enhances the enjoyment and
sense of wonder? Or are the effects so overwhelming it distracts the audience from the main storyline?)
 What are the different layers to the film? How can the film be taken outside of its literal meaning?
 Taken as a whole, would the film now be considered good or bad? Would you recommend readers to shell
out a few bucks and watch it on the big screen, or just wait until it comes out (more cheaply) on video?

Critics also have specific expectations depending on genre. These are:

 For horror: Does the film evoke feelings of terror, of being unsettled, of not wanting to leave the comforts of their couch
(or bed) afterwards? While watching, does the film keep the viewers on the edge of their seats?
 For drama: Does the film deal with real, relatable issues? Is the film deeply rooted in reality, with a resolution that does
not feel contrived?
 For comedy: Does the film have wit, is the script really funny, and the situations inventive? Is the script truly funny and
does not have to resort to slapstick just to generate laughs?
 For action: Is there heart-stopping action? Thrilling chase scenes? Explosions? Do the action scenes serve the plot?
 Fantasy: Does the movie bring the viewers into a parallel universe full of wonders? Are there enchanting magical
creatures that stand for real-life fears?

Movie Review Structure

The First Paragraph

A catchy and creative introduction that captures how the writer feels about the movie.

Example: "It crashes and burns." - (Said of a film that the writer finds awful.)
"Genius is a word that is not thrown away lightly. This time, however, that label is well-deserved." - Said of a film that
the writer fell in love with.
The Body

Here, the general observations and supporting details are enumerated. The body includes the writer's evaluation of the
following:
 Condensed plot synopsis - This is contained in one or two paragraphs that summarize the plot of the film, including the
key conflict.
 Acting - Here, the writer evaluates the skills of the actors, how well - or how badly - they portrayed their roles, the
nuances they displayed.
 The script - How tight is the script? How is the main conflict resolved? Is it filled with clichés? Any zesty one-liners?
These are the things that the writer has to address.
 The production values:
 Cinematography - How are the shots? The framing? The clarity of the mise-en scene? Is the use of filters
justified? What about the brightness and contrast? o Special effects - Here, the writer should comment on
how well the Computer
 Graphic Images (CGI) blended well with the live action, or how seamlessly the sound and visual effects were
integrated into the story.
 Costumes and sets - Costumes and sets should look authentic and 100 times better than those found in high
school productions. Fake-looking sets ruin the realism that movies are supposed to imbue.
 Soundtrack - Soundtrack is music that usually accompanies a specific scene
 The accompanying music - or bed - should not be too loud as to detract from the action taking place. Instead,
the music should heighten the emoji go with the scene,
 The entertainment value - Movies are created mainly to entertain, so entertainment value very important. If
the audience gets bored after the first 15 minutes the there might be something wrong.
 Direction - The director's style would be analyzed here. Certain directors - ika Stanley Kubrick or Alfred
Hitchcock – have a very distinct sense of style. Others seem to hover on the safe side and had not produced
anything ground-breaking The coherence of the material, how one scene flows fluidly to the next, is a mark of
good direction

The Kicker

The final paragraph sums up the view of the writer. Usually, the last part of the review ends with an equally catchy expression
which echoes the sentiment found in the first paragraph. In this way, the thoughts in the article are tied up nicely.

Art Review Structure

The art review basically follows the same format as that of the movie review. As we have said earlier, all
reviews/critiques are argumentative in form and has an hour glass structure. For better understanding of the Art Review
structure, we have down to different parts:

The First Paragraph/s

Start with a statement that captures how you feel and think about the art exhibit that you are reviewing. Here, the
reader can predict your opinion about the piece/ pieces that you are critiquing. The first paragraph answers the questions:

What kind of exhibit is being displayed and what are your impressions about it? Who is the artist?

The Body

Here, the writer states his supporting ideas and starts the evaluation and content detailing the art piece/exhibit. The
following are the details contained in the body:
  The artist/art piece's purpose Here, the author gives details about the artist's motivation for creating the piece. Is the
artists simply riding on the current trend? Is it part of his/her hobby? Or is the artist trying to raise funds for an
advocacy? Is it just "art for art's sake" or is the piece speaking for a larger advocacy?
 The style/movement that influences the art piece - Perhaps the artist is schooled under Picasso's Cubism style, or
Salvador Dali's surrealism, or Nunie Alvarado's social realism, or the current trend of hyper-realism. This would give
the reader a better understanding of the art piece.
 The medium/media equipment used - The writer should describe the instruments used in creating the art piece. Did the
painter use acrylic on canvas? Watercolors? If it was an installation art, a mixed media of industrial steel and
cardboard. It is a digital painting, the model and brand of camera and editing software used would be included here.
 The layers:
 Literal - This is what the eye sees. Perhaps, the exhibit shows a series of paintings of man carrying objects of
varying sizes (a book, a truck, the world, a pebble, an empty jute sack).
 Metaphorical - Here, the different interpretations for the painting is discuss. Perhaps the different objects
could mean the different emotional burdens that a man (or a woman) has to carry as he passes through life.
Or maybe, the different objects could represent the different kinds of influences man has as he goes through
life.
 The Pull - The writer tries to describe the effect that the art piece has on his. It could be strong enough to affect the
write emotionally, or stimulate her intellectually

The Conclusion
The final paragraph sums up the view of the writer. Ultimately, is the piece really worthy to be called "art", or is it worth
a dime a dozen and thus easily forgettable?

If a Concert/Recital

 The Program Flow - The writer should look out for a cohesive program, one that flows smoothly from one segment to
the next. The writer can also discuss the appropriateness of the songs/pieces selected and whether these adhere to
the theme.

 The quality of the performances - Maybe the singers are able to hit the right notes. The dance choreography is
executed flawlessly. Or perhaps, there is a standout performance that is worth noting (or conversely, a bad
performance that ruins and otherwise solid event).