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Better Living Through Criticism

Sarah Robertson via CC/Flickr, http://bit.ly/1nuQGDM

  A.O. Scott has been a film critic for the New York Times for more than 15 years, so it may seem strange that he’s now questioning the value of his work. In a new book, he asks what the point of criticism actually is. Scott argues that critical thinking informs almost every aspect of artistic creation, of civil action, and of our interactions with each other. In that way, he says, we’re all critics. Scott joins us Wednesday for a discussion about art, pleasure, beauty, truth, and of course criticism.

A.O. Scott is a chief film critic for the New York Times. He also writes often for the Times Magazine and the newspaper’s book review. He has contributed works of critical journalism for Newsday, Slate, The New York Review of Books, and many other publications. His new book is called Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty and Truth [Amazon|Indiebound].

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.