--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People believe that criticism should be…" description: "\"People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're doing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/robert-christgau-9660_believe_people-believe-that-criticism-should-be_10831.jpg" --- # People believe that criticism should be objective… ![“People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're doing sonata-allegro procedure analysis, you can be objective for a page or two. But in pop? Really hard.” quote by Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/robert-christgau-9660_believe_people-believe-that-criticism-should-be_10831.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/robert-christgau-9660_believe_people-believe-that-criticism-should-be_10831.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/robert-christgau-9660_believe_people-believe-that-criticism-should-be_10831.jpg) > “People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're doing sonata-allegro procedure analysis, you can be objective for a page or two. But in pop? Really hard.” [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticism's claim to objectivity is often vague; while formal analysis can be systematic, evaluating popular music resists strict neutrality. **In simple terms:** Objectivity in music criticism is elusive. Key Takeaway Criticism is inherently subjective. Themes subjectivity a criticism music analysis pop culture evaluation standards Mood analytical skeptical reflective Type observation analysis opinion When to use this quote - reviewing a classical piece - writing a pop album review - debating music value - teaching music criticism Key Concepts objective vs subjective genre differences critical methodology Practical Applications - educational curricula on criticism - guidelines for music reviewers Questions to Reflect On - How does genre influence perceived objectivity? - Can critics acknowledge bias while remaining credible? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [You know, criticism began as the province of amateurs, of wealthy men who liked the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/you-know-criticism-began-as-the-province-of-amateurs-of-wealthy-men/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [I welcome criticism. 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Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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It's fine not to like almost anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/one-concept-the-non-old-have-trouble-getting-their-minds-around-is/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [You know, criticism began as the province of amateurs, of wealthy men who liked the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/you-know-criticism-began-as-the-province-of-amateurs-of-wealthy-men/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I believe that writing on music is experienced inside your head, is not a physically present in the world, it has a different kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/i-believe-that-writing-on-music-is-experienced-inside-your-head-is/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [Chuck Berry's 'Maybellene' hit the airwaves at about the time Alan Freed got to New York, and it was definitely a song I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/chuck-berry-s-maybellene-hit-the-airwaves-at-about-the-time-alan/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I don't think it's such a bad idea that people learn the same history in school. 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