Media Reviews

Media reviews present an evaluation of a work of art, a song or music album, a television program, a book, a movie or play, a computer game, a DVD, a Web site, or any of a number of other cultural productions. The subject of the review reflects the shared interests of the group of writers and readers involved in a written conversation. For example, a group of horror fans might be interested in a new film based on one of Dean Koontz’s novels, while people who play a particular video game will probably be interested in the latest version of the game.

Because media reviewers expect their readers to understand what’s necessary for success in a particular medium, they often do not define their criteria. For example, a movie critic will assume that readers are familiar with the importance of acting, plot, and cinematography. The evidence used to determine whether the subject of a review has met the criteria for success is most often drawn from the subject itself and from the reviewer’s personal interpretation, although writers sometimes include evidence from interviews, surveys, or published sources to support their evaluations.