1. Everyone's a Critic

Theatre critic Arifa Akbar explores whether the art of criticism is in crisis. From identity politics to the internet, social and technological change is challenging the ideals that have underpinned the work of critics for centuries. What does this mean for criticism and for culture at large?

Once, the critic was an almighty figure - a powerful voice able to assume a large audience, a tastemaker and gatekeeper, dispensing judgment on books, plays, exhibitions, film and television. Today it feels as the role is under intense scrutiny, as social change and contemporary cultural politics challenge the ideals on which criticism has rested for centuries - the authority and universality of the critic’s voice; even the need for, and value of, criticism itself.

In this programme, Arifa explores what a shocking attack on a German dance critic might tell us about the waning power and authority of the critic. And she looks at how the internet gave rise to the ‘everyman’ critic – keyboard warriors who have found their voices online, partaking in the democratisation of opinion and criticism. She hears how a new generation of critics are changing what it means to practice criticism in a digital age and meets the artists challenging what critics can and cannot criticise. If we’ve witnessed the death of the old school critic, has the art of criticism flourished or withered in its wake?

With Wiebke Hüster, Michael Billington, Paul Morley, Meera Syal, Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad of The White Pube, Yolanda Bonnell and JJ Charlesworth.

Featuring an extract from 'Bug' by Yolanda Bonnell, directed by Carmen Alves

Special thanks to the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Producers: Melissa FitzGerald & Sarah O'Reilly

A Zinc Audio production for BBC Radio 4