I believe that when a critic judges an artist in a genre that is not among their favorite genres, that it is the critic's job to defer to the judgement of the fans and artists of that genre and not leave someone out just because they are in a genre that is not their favorite.
For example, I am not the biggest fan of grunge.
But there is no way I would leave Kurt Cobain and Nirvana out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
They had so much talent, and even if I did not recognize their talent, they meant so much to fans of that genre, that I would not consider myself to be a competent music critic if I left them out of the Hall of Fame just because Grunge is not my favorite genre.
That applies not only to Pearl Jam, which is an exception as a Grunge band I like, but to Nirvana, who I don't like that much myself, though I can hear their massive talent.
But I know how much that band meant to so many.
I consider myself to be not qualified to judge on a genre that is not one of my favorites, and so it is my job to recognize the judgement of that genre's fans.
To recognize the artists that mean so much to the fans of that genre.
I would never leave an artist as beloved as Nirvana out of a Hall of Fame just because they do not make art in one of my favorite genres.
I have too much respect for that genre's fans to dismiss their legends if I were asked to make a judgement as a critic.
It matters to me that an artist means that much to their fans.
I just wanted to throw that out.
I also have a lot of respect for Nirvana and Kurt Cobain.
They aren't my cup of tea. But I have massive respect for them.
And the same goes for a writer or artist in a popular field. If a Stephen King, say, has the talent and brilliance of a legend, then they deserve the praise just as much as a Tolstoy. There is no difference. There is no 'high' art and 'low' art- there is only good art and bad art. And art in a popular field has just as much potential for discussing worthwhile ideas as 'high' art does. You only need to read the lyrics to 'Survivor' by Destiny's Child to see that.
And that's what I believe is the responsability of an art critic in any genre of art, music, visual art, literature, anything.
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson
P.S. I think that this is a good attitude to have in Life, not just as a critic!