Directions: Write a review of a 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. Please post your completed work in this blog space AND on Turnitin.com for a formal grade. I look forward to your responses!
Part I: Reading Criticism
The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing. – Oscar Wilde
Peruse the following collection of Oscar Wilde's reviews: A Critic in Pall Mall. Read “Dinner and Dishes” which is supposed to be a review of an actual book, but Wilde plays on the words and gives a review of his favorite dining areas well as the ones about Shakespeare to get a sense of his critical voice and wit.
Part II: Research
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 like Jaws (1975) look for Roger Ebert’s Movie Reviews 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 in our previous blog post on Oscar Wilde's Background or visit Goodreads.
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
Use the following list to help guide you in the writing process. I will be thinking about the following elements when I evaluate your review:
- What point is the author getting across in the review? Did the students choose a subject that will help showcase the ideas and voice of Oscar Wilde?
- Does the author have a clear knowledge of the piece being reviewed and makes direct references in the review?
- Did the students do the proper research?
- Does the review showcase the development of idea from the beginning of the argument to the end? Again, does it model modern reviews as well as the reviews of Oscar Wilde?
- Does the piece sound like Oscar Wilde, consistently?
- Does the review present the elements of Aestheticism?
- Is there an advanced use of vocabulary and diction?
- Does the author utilize and create epigrams and make proper use of paradox? These tools must be used consistently throughout the piece.
- Is it funny...in an Oscar Wilde way?
