About Kritikon

Disclaimer

According to Maxim Newmark's Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases, "kritikon" is a Greek word which means "sensory discrimination."

I constructed this web site to promote discussions concerning the following:

• mainstream popular culture and canonical literature
• the meaning of "entertainment" in relation to art
• the argument that some works of art are superior to others and the view that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
• the idea of a liberal education
• aesthetic value

My goal is to convince readers that

• the appreciation of canonical literature and great works of art in general is crucial, and that exposure to mainstream popular culture should be minimized
• entertainment should not primarily involve melodramatic reactions but thoughtful ones, especially those that appreciate the significance of themes raised by great works of art
• there are values by which one may measure the superiority of certain works of art over others, and that these values are universal
• a liberal education (which should be defined) is necessary in order for anyone to appreciate great art
• one should return to raising questions about the meaning of art