Comments on The Pathetic State of (Dance) Criticism at the Seattle Times

Topped only by The Stranger writing about The Seattle Times writing about The New York Times.

The Slog's obsession with the dailies, and especially The Times, is -- what's the word? -- pathetic.

I have an obsession with good criticism, and I'd love to see some in the leading daily in our city. If you don't give a shit about serious criticism, then we just have different priorities.

So I guess the days of the Stranger sending a staffer to review dance who starts their article stating that they hate modern dance are over for good?

I'm not fond of the PNB piece either, and in general I can't stand the Times, but they've consistently had the most coverage of Seattle dance in the last 10-15 years.

bitta, bitta, bitta today, aren't we?

@3: They've been over since I was performance editor. It does no good to hate entire genres. Except, of course, burlesque.

Jen: Your retort to Alexander makes no sense. You say that art critics should go write good art criticism, instead of just writing about what others have written. But what do you do yourself? You write about what others have written instead of writing your own art criticism. Your actions belie your claim to care more about serious criticism than about what other journalists are doing.

David: I do care about what other journalists are doing -- never said I didn't. I am simply disappointed with the Times's critical coverage, with the exception, it should be said, of Sheila Farr's critique of the Olympic Sculpture Park, which I really admired (should have said so at the time).

It's pathetic in that they assigned a reporter to write this bylined piece and that some editor felt this was an actual news tidbit. But what I find even more pathetic, Jen Graves, is that you've felt compelled to check back to see if anyone has responded to your own little rant and then write your little defensive response. Twice. Care to go for No. 3?

Which is more pathetic, Big Poop, reading people's responses to one's blog post and engaging with their feedback, or anonymously trolling and sniping on someone else's blog?

AW - yes, the Stranger dance coverage has been decidedly less hateful in the last several years. And the years that Bret Fetzer was most active at the paper, the Stranger's coverage of local dance was quite good.

Psst: http://www.seattlest.com/archives/dance/

It may not be as extensive or "authoritative" as you're complaining about, but a couple of us over at Seattlest have been paying quite a bit of attention to the direction that PNB has taken now that Boal is at the helm.

O RLY, come here often, stranger? Or shall we say, Pot? Kettle.

Which is more pathetic, Big Poop, reading people's responses to one's blog post and engaging with their feedback, or anonymously trolling and sniping on someone else's blog?

Posted by O RLY?