Who is allowed to critique the work in any given field? Is this task given solely to other experts in the same field, or does an average citizen have the right to do so as well? It appears that this answer should be dependent on the field that is being discussed. In certain fields, an average person does not have enough background to make a fair comment, such as in medicine or in physics, so only other experts should contribute critiques. In more accessible areas of interest, such as theater, literature, music, and art, average people should have the right to critique. They may not understand every single technical term or action but this does not mean that their opinions are an unfair observation. Fields in the Arts focus on producing material that is for an audience, so it seems only fair that the audience should have the right to comment even if they are not experts on the matter.
An average person will most likely not have extensive knowledge of physics, science, medicine, etc. When reports about new technological breakthroughs come out, a person can research it for sure, but they do not have the credibility to critically judge it. People are entitled to their opinions, but this does not mean that any opinion has to be valued by members of the field being critiqued. When Elon Musk promotes his Tesla electric cars, lay people do not have to purchase the cars, but they do not have extensive knowledge of what goes into creating such a vehicle. They cannot judge it critically to the level such a groundbreaking creation deserves, rather we should leave this judgment to those who are experts in the field. It would be insulting to inventors and academics in these fields to deal with the judgments of laypeople and take their critiques as the gospel. They should be focusing their energy on the critical comments of other experts who actually understand the field and can see things from a different perspective than the average person would.
There are other fields though where there is room for both average citizens to critical judge as well as experts in the field. People in the Arts, such as music, theater, movies, art, literature, etc. create material that is promoted to average people to consume. Without an audience, the arts would be reduced to just an outlet for the creator, and while there is nothing wrong with this, most creators have the desire for their work to be seen amongst the masses. As this is the case, the audience should have the right to make critical observations even if they are not an expert. The Arts are more accessible and easier to learn about as an average citizen, allowing everyday people to have more extensive knowledge than they would on something more technical such as medicine. In the movie industry, there are apps and websites, such as Rotten Tomatoes or Letterbox, that allow for both experts and average people to leave reviews on films they have seen. In many cases, the ratings differ drastically between the two groups, as Film Critics have an understanding of the more technical aspects of the movies while other people are basing it solely on their opinions. People who are not as concerned with the technical aspect of the film appreciate the critical judgments of an average person as it is closer to their own perspective going into a movie as well.
Whether or not a movie or production makes money is also based on the audience’s perception. As the funding of the Arts is dependent on the audience, average people should have the right to make critical judgments. Not knowing the technical and specific terms and phrases of the industry does not mean that a person is unable to make a critical judgment. A poor performer can be assessed by average people no matter their background. Just because a person did not go to film or art school does not automatically mean their opinion in that sphere is without value. The app Goodreads is a platform that allows people to share their reading history and to rate and review books. Many people find their forever favorite books through this recommendation site, not through critical reviews found elsewhere. An average person may just want to hear the opinion of another average person without the pressure of loving or hating the material based on a professional opinion. Art can also be incredibly subjective, meaning that even all of the knowledge learned in school to make one an expert does not mean that their critical judgments are wholly correct. While there is value in expert opinion in these fields, it is also necessary for laypeople to have the right to insert their critical judgment at times.
Whether or not an expert opinion should be the only opinion of value is dependent on the field that is being discussed. In more academic, scientific, technical, and mathematical fields we should trust the critical judgments of experts, while also taking the time to research the materials ourselves. There is nothing wrong with investigating so that we may be well-informed but this does not automatically give an average person the ability to make critical judgments that should concern others. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but this does not mean an opinionated person is correct merely on the basis of research. Due to a lack of knowledge in these fields, expert opinion should be valued more highly. In the field of the Arts, there should be room for both average people’s opinions as well as experts in the field. Not being an expert should not exclude a person from being able to comment on their experience with the material that was presented to them. These fields are more accessible meaning that it is easier to have a greater source of knowledge surrounding the topics. More people have a greater understanding and can comment critically on the creations. As art is subjective though, neither an expert nor an average person can be wholly correct in their assessment, meaning every individual must make their own judgment.
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Hi Olivia,
I agree with the e-grader and would score this as a 4.5.
Your essay looks good overall, with solid writing skills and an appropriate length. However, the structure and writing style are hard to follow and leave room for improvement.
Most importantly, follow the 5-paragraph format. Your first paragraph should start by clearly stating your thesis, and briefly summarizing your three main points. Each main paragraph should have an obvious transition sentence, like “First,” “Second,” etc. Finally, your last paragraph should restate your thesis and should again briefly summarize the supporting arguments.
Many of your sentences are quite long. Including some long sentences is great, but too many hurts the readability. Try splitting up your sentences and varying the style more.
Avoid using rhetorical questions. You can add one or two for emphasis, but that’s not the best way to start your essay.
I suggest using Grammarly to improve your writing further. You have a great foundation, and learning to clean up your sentences should push you to a 5.0 or even 5.5!
Okay, thank you so much! I will definitely incorporate your tips in the future!
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