The downward spiral of criticism continues. Helsingin Sanomat announced that it will reduce its TV criticism. Crushing criticism gets a lot of attention, but otherwise the media and the public are less and less interested in criticism, writes Olli Kangassalo, producer of Kulttuuriykkösi.
Surely one form of cultural journalism cannot be dying if it arouses so much passion?
Criticism has been on the decline in media content for a couple of decades, as long as the internet and social media have been eating into newspaper advertising revenues. Criticism’s long funeral now looks set to continue with another sad news story.
The magazine plans to squeeze more power out of monthly paid cultural journalists. Instead, the expert, critical freelance culture journalist is in danger of becoming an endangered species as a result of a long evolution in the industry.
– Articles from the culture department often become the most read. Other than such crushing reviews. But of course the editors knew that there would be a stir before they pressed the publish button.
Miikkulainen mentions that readers have also been interested in Behm’s gig review. Other than crushing criticism can be a hit.
Helsingin Sanomat’s criticisms are circulated in other newspapers of the group. This is how the blow of Helsingin Sanomat’s criticism is merciless. It’s even worse if the magazine doesn’t write at all. So the field of culture needs criticism, but it hurts if the criticism is negative.
Recently, art criticism has generally been accused of being too weak and kind. According to Tuomas Karemon, Yle’s culture editor, criticism digs its own grave if the critic doesn’t dare to unequivocally criticize a bad work.
Dismissal criticisms cause strong reactions among the public, especially if it is a domestic work. The artist and the theater may blame the critic if ticket sales stop.
In Vuori’s opinion, a critic must have both sensitivity to experiencing and understanding the work and strong self-esteem at the same time.
– At the moment, all criticism is going down and experience evaluation is going up, thought Suna Vuori.
The public’s understanding of the task of art criticism is also very unclear and strange. It is now clearly visible in some comments.
– For example, Yle’s former CEO Jungner wrote on Twitter that criticism is part of marketing. Quite the opposite. Criticism is at its best independent content analysis, stressed Vuori in Kulttuuriykösen.
*What do you think about the state of cultural criticism? You can discuss the topic on 16.4. 2023 until 11 pm.*
On Kulttuuriykkönen’s broadcast, the critic and Kritiikki are seen discussing the topic! – project leader Maaria Ylikangas, Helsingin Sanomat’s culture editor Aino Miikkulainen and culture communication expert Suna Vuori.