Directions: Write a review of novel,
film, artwork, or other medium as if you were Oscar Wilde (you may also focus
on an author, artist or musician if you wish).
This is an exercise in exploring style, as well as substance, which is
to say that this will be about nothing, which is everything. This will count as
a writing grade.
Part I: Reading Criticism
The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what
is worth knowing.
– Oscar Wilde
Peruse the following link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30191/30191-h/30191-h.htm
It contains reviews by Oscar Wilde. Read “Dinner and Dishes” which is supposed to be about an actual book, but Wilde plays on words and gives a review of his
favorite dining areas. Also explore the ones about Shakespeare to get a sense of his
critical voice and wit.
Part II: Research
The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it. – Oscar Wilde
Choice of subject.
Choose something, which will lend itself to Wilde’s Wit. Further, if you
are to be a critic, you must be knowledgeable.
Know your subject inside and out. Content should look like a major
essay. Introduce your subject in some
way, the body of the document must have detailed evidence and be a pleasure to
read with smooth transitions, and a conclusion.
Part III: The Art of the
Review
The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is
unreadable and literature is not read. – Oscar
Wilde
My advice is to look up modern examples for reviews
to help get the basic structure. For
example, if you are writing a review of the film Jaws (1975) look at the Chicago
Sun Times for Roger Ebert’s review or The
New Yorker, something with a critical eye.
Part IV: Language and Style
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they
will kill you. – Oscar Wilde
Try to capture the voice and style of Oscar
Wilde. Review and read some of his
prose. He will get into your head and
come out of your pen. Review his
epigrams at the following link:
Above
all, it must be beautiful and adhere to the tenants of Aestheticism.
1)
Art never expresses anything but itself.
2)
All bad art comes from returning to Life and Nature, and elevating them into
ideals.
3)
Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.
4)
Lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things is the proper aim of Art.
Part
V: Grading Your Work
One
can only give an unbiased opinion about things that do not interest one, which
is no doubt the reason an unbiased opinion is always valueless. The man who
sees both sides of a question is a man who sees absolutely nothing. – Oscar Wilde
1.
What point is the author getting across in the review? (10 Points)
2.
Does the author have a clear knowledge of the piece being reviewed
and makes direct references in the review? (30 Points)
3.
Does the review showcase the development of idea from the
beginning
of the argument to the end? (10 Points)
4.
Does the piece sound like Oscar Wilde, consistently? (20 Points)
5.
Is there an advanced use of vocabulary and diction? (10 Points)
6.
Does the author utilize and create epigrams and make proper use of
paradox? (20 Points)
Should we print it or are we Turnitin-ing?
ReplyDelete