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Quality criticism remains one of the best ways for talented writers to make a name for themselves. This illuminating course presents unique insights into the craft of cultural criticism from a heavyweight panel including some of the Guardian's most experienced writers. Leading theatre critic Lyn Gardner, art critic Brian Dillon and Guardian Books editor Claire Armitstead show how the best critics share their passions, enlighten their audience and make the cultural world a better place.
Offering practical advice on how to write about the arts, as well as an overview of the industry, you'll learn how to make your voice heard among the clamour of online opinion, as well as how to tell stories that give your work critical authority and genuine purpose. You'll also learn about the realities of turning pro, how top writers make it pay, and how to carve out your own niche to discuss a subject you love. Whether you're an outspoken blogger, a working journalist, or simply an opinionated culture vulture, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the theory behind criticism and how to put it into practice.
This course is for you if...
- You're a blogger who wants to add more critical authority to your writing
- You're an aspiring journalist who wants to get into cultural criticism
- You're a journalist who wants to move from news or features into writing about culture
- You want to graduate from social media commentator to professional critic
Course description
This large-scale, seminar-style event introduces the essentials of writing about contemporary culture, with sessions focusing on art, theatre and books. Topics covered on the day include:
- Constructive criticism: how to tell a story with a review
- What distinguishes good arts writing from bad
- How a well-written description can be more powerful than a fiery polemic
- Theatre criticism in the digital era: how the digital landscape is transforming the critic's job
- The realities of turning pro: how to make criticism pay
- Q&A with each speaker
Tutor profiles
Lyn Gardner is a British theatre critic, writer and journalist who works for the Guardian. She also writes children's novels, including Into the Woods (2006) and Out of the Woods (2010), both illustrated by Mini Grey and published by David Fickling Books. Lyn is also the author of the Stage School Series, based around a young girl named Olivia attending stage school. Before joining the Guardian, Lyn was a founder member of the City Limits cooperative where she edited the theatre section.
Claire Armitstead is the editor of Guardian Books. She was previously arts editor, having worked as a theatre critic for the Financial Times and the Guardian. As a published author, she has contributed essays to New Performance (Macmillan, 1994) and Women: A Cultural Review (Oxford University Press, 1996). She makes regular appearances on radio and television as a cultural commentator on literature and the arts. She also presents the weekly Guardian Books podcast, and is a regular speaker on the UK festival circuit.
Brian Dillon is a writer and critic whose work appears regularly in the Guardian, the London Review of Books, Artforum and frieze. His books include Objects in This Mirror: Essays (2014), Sanctuary (2011), Tormented Hope: Nine Hypochondriac Lives (2009) and In the Dark Room (2005). He is reader in critical writing at the Royal College of Art and UK editor of Cabinet magazine.
Details
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Date: Wednesday 29 April 2015
Times: 6.30pm-9.30pm. Check-in begins 30 minutes before the start time.
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £49 (includes VAT, booking fee and drinks)
Event capacity: 100
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
