A New Kind of Judge

By Brian Ochieng Akoko, Reporter | Nakuru City – Kenya.

For decades, the power of a critic was immense. A single review from a famous critic could make or break a film. They were the gatekeepers. They were the tastemakers.

They were the ones who told us what was good and what was bad. But the internet has changed everything. That power has been decentralized.

The new critics are not just found in newspapers. They are found on YouTube. They are found on social media. They are found on podcasts.

They are not just famous critics. They are just people with an opinion. They are your friends. They are people you trust.

The Power of the Podcaster

Podcasts have become a major force in criticism. A podcaster can sit down for hours. They can talk about a single film. They can talk about every single detail. They can go deep.

This is a very different experience from a 500-word review in a newspaper. A podcast feels more personal. You feel like you are part of a conversation. You get to know the host.

You get to trust their opinion. They are not just giving you a grade. They are giving you their thoughts. This feels more authentic. A podcaster can also build a community. They can interact with their audience.

They can take questions. They can talk about what their listeners want to hear about. This creates a loyal audience. This creates a powerful platform. The trust is built over time.

It is built through a shared love of the subject. This is a major change from the past. The old critics were often distant. They were often seen as being out of touch. The new critics are accessible. They are part of the conversation.

The Social Media Sensation

Social media has also changed the game. A single tweet can be a review. A video on TikTok can go viral. It can be a review of a new show. It can be a review of a new song.

These reviews are fast. They are often funny. They are often to the point. This is a form of instant criticism. It is a form of collective judgment. It can be a good thing. It can help people find new things to watch.

It can help people find new things to listen to. It can create a buzz around a new piece of art. But it also has a downside. It is not always thoughtful. It is not always in-depth. It is often just a reaction.

It can be a way to attack an artist. It can be a way to be negative. It can be a way to spread hate. The old critics had standards. They had editors. The new critics have none of that.

The Battle for Trust

The new critics are a challenge to the old critics. The old critics are often seen as part of the establishment. They are seen as being out of touch. They are seen as being too serious.

The new critics are seen as being authentic. They are seen as being relatable. But the old critics still have a lot of power. They have a reputation. They have a brand. They have a history.

A single review in The New York Times still matters. A single review from a major critic can still have a huge impact. The future is likely a mix of both. The old guard will continue to be important.

They will continue to provide a high level of analysis. But the new critics will also be a major force. They will continue to provide a voice for the people. They will continue to provide a new way to talk about art.

The public will have to learn how to navigate this new landscape. They will have to learn who to trust. They will have to learn how to find good criticism.

They will have to learn how to separate the good from the bad. It is a world of endless choice. It is a world of endless opinion.

The Future of Criticism

The new critics are not just replacing the old critics. They are changing the very nature of criticism. They are making it more democratic. They are making it more accessible.

They are making it more about the conversation. This is a good thing for the art world. It means that more voices are being heard. It means that more people are part of the conversation.

It means that art can be talked about in a new way. The next time you want to find out what to watch, don’t just look for a famous critic. Look for a podcaster. Look for a social media star. Look for a video essay.

You might find a new voice. You might find a new way to see the world. You might find a new way to see the art that you love.