Critics…do they serve a purpose?

What is the purpose of a critic—to tell us what we like? I have often wondered why a critic is a critic. There are several of them out there paid to write their opinion of what is good and not good. They may be experts but come on do they really know what you like. The funny thing is they don’t all agree. If a particular album or movie was good wouldn’t all reviews show that and vice versa.

I have been following the controversy over Kelly Clarkson’s new album My December, the varied reviews are astounding. There are glowing reviews and there are not-so-glowing reviews. So is it a bad album or is it a good album—or is it in the ear of the listener? Are we supposed to choose what we watch and listen to based on what the critics say—or do we have our own opinion and can actually decide what we like?

Movies, music and plays are all relative to the listener and the watcher. I did not like Rent, yet it received glowing reviews. Doesn’t make it a bad movie because I didn’t like, but it also doesn’t make me like it because of the glowing reviews. I liked From Justin to Kelly and it received…well you know it received. Am I supposed to not like it because of the not-so-glowing reviews? Granted there was a lot wrong with the movie but there was a lot of entertainment in it as well and I know what I like to watch and listen to.

Which brings me back to my title question—do critics serve a purpose? It has been said that their reviews can make or break an album, movie or play. But who really reads a critic’s review and decide I’m not going to see that movie, or buy that album or go to that play because of a bad review or vice versa. Do their reviews constitute success? If so, we live in a sad world; people that have to depend on the opinion of other people (experts that is…?) to tell them what’s good or bad.

Are there really people out there that say “I’m glad we have critics, because I can’t think for myself, I don’t know what I like.”

What do you think? Or do you need a critic to tell me that? Afterall, they do have a purpose. Right?