Second Media Blog post for MDIA 3110: Advanced Media Criticism!

I found it interesting on how modern TV criticism is done. I had assumed that detailed analysis and week-by-week recaps was only the work of diehard fans of the show. I never thought that professional criticism was written like this, such dedication I assumed would only come from a die-hard fan. But then I realized that such dedication makes sense, why else would one be a critic in the first place. However there are drawbacks to this form of criticism: its main appeal is not going to be the casual viewer, but rather the aforementioned die-hard fans. Also such criticism has a limited appeal because after a new episode airs, no one cares about last week. Also it never occurred to me that their peers might consider critics, who are active fans, might be labeled bias if they make cameos or do their best to save a show from the can.

Of the two hot links, I clicked on within the articles one was from the AV Club, about modern TV criticism has been changed by the new types of programs found in the new millennium, specifically serialized dramas like Mad Men, and The Sopranos which by nature demand more attention be spent on them, then your average sitcom, or legal drama. Such dramas are a product of the new millennium, and as such viewing habits and criticism have changed accordingly: recaps are the norms for viewers who enter a show midseason and wish to get a general idea of who the characters are and what has happened. I chose that hyperlink, because it seemed to offer a more in-depth view of modern TV criticism. The second hyperlink I clicked on was from Time Entertainment, and offered more light on the subject of critical objectivity. The opinions offered there suggest that critics should be above the fans, they note that Mr. Sepinwall stopped reviewing Modern Family, because of the anger the fans got from his reviews. Those who wrote this article argue that critics should remain above the fans and not let them influence them in any way. This is a recurring problem amongst critics whose reviews are read by a fan base, how to be impartial without losing your readership. These are not the views of amateurs, but of professional critics, who are under stress. There are concerns that recaps are counter-productive: you might find yourself frustrated over an episode that turns out to pay off in the long run, or may simply be disappointed with the results of a finale such as Lost.