Critics bashing critics

[dirac]

I don't think a personal connection would be a factor here, even if it exists – many people seem to feel as Frago does. No need for sleuthing, I imagine.

[cargill]

The whole thing seems odd to me. There were lots of reasons to criticise Homan's article, but the fact that she did not parrot Kisselgoff on the state of NYCB isn't one of them. Barnes is the one that brought up Kisselgoff and now the whole things seems to be turning into a pro and anti Kisselgoff argument, not pro and anti Homans. Good for Dance Magazine, though, to have published the letter.

[Farrell Fan]

I remembered this thread after reading Gottlieb's review of "The Inevitable, Awful Eifman" in the New York Observer of April 21. He asked, "Why do knowledgeable dance reviewers consistently praise this mishmash of misguided ambition and relentless posturing? (Where's their conscience?)"

I enjoyed Eifman's "Who's Who," but now realize this was due to serious moral failings and character deviancies on my part. My enjoyment lies heavily on my conscience.

[dirac]

I don't think Gottlieb meant to attack anyone's character; he just thinks critics should know better.

[Leigh Witchel]

What dirac said.

I'm not sure Gottlieb's beef is with people who enjoy the performances. Whether he's right or wrong can be discussed here, but I think the analogy for his objection might be be if a critic talked about Phillip Glass as if he were Mozart.