books review

Stefan Collini & Peter Conrad

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Two critics talk about literary criticism, what its role is and whether it's relevant today. Now forgive my cynicism here, but surely most professionals in their field would be unlikely to admit that their job is pointless or irrelevant? The main problem I had with this event is that it lacked balance, with both eminent critics Collini and Conrad obviously having moved a distance from their 'uninformed and inexperienced' public. I was very bothered by the fact that no one challenged the arrogant view that a critic's opinion is somehow more valuable than that of the reader, and the rather dubious value ascribed to critics writing exclusively to other critics. A good challenger would have made it a much better debate.

ScottishPower Studio Theatre, Aug 15, 2.00pm, fpp n/a

published: Aug-2008

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