This is for a Panel in the category for a Beginner audience.
I envision this panel as a panel discussion of the “lean back” variety. This is a list of people who do really interesting criticism online. They work for a variety of publications, and each are known for thinking critically about how to do criticism in the digital space. Kevin, Moira and Rachel run independent publications that experiment with criticism; Ayesha is spearheading BuzzFeed Ideas; Laurence runs a very exciting Dutch-Flemish research group (http://www.actuelekunstkritiek.org/) interested in everything from the business model to the interactive reader in arts writing. Together, I think they could have a really illuminating conversation around some of the following questions:
What is the job of a critic when everyone has a platform? What is the role of the audience in contemporary criticism? What do digital platforms allow criticism to do that wasn’t previously possible? How is public opinion and culture technologically determined? How do we deal with issues of diversity in criticism (http://thehairpin.com/2014/04/the-number-of-male-restaurant-critics-is-more-than-double-that-of-female-critics)?
How does your submission contribute to the diversity of the conference?
Very diverse panel here across the board.
What will your audience have gained by the time your session is over?
Suggested Speakers
Laurence Scherz | @versorekto
Ayesha Siddiqi | @pushinghoops
Rachel Rosenfelt | @rachelrosenfelt
Kevin Nguyen | @knguyen
Maura Johnston | @maura