Critic culture is dwindling in the Australian landscape. Though we boast a rich collection of diverse voices and stories, it’s a pressing issue that remains. Whether it be in literature, media and other avenues, somehow, our ability to respond to media authentically falls short. Don’t get me wrong, I know we’re not short of snappy one-liner film reviews on Letterboxd, nor are we restricted from engaging with our peers through stories we consume. Anyone can write a review and express their thoughts—the question is, who’s willing to break free from the repressive culture we find ourselves in? It’s this very idea that the Wheeler Centre’s Liminal Festival opens a conversation with. Through Critical Limit, this matter permeating in our literary world is brought to light by critics Eda Gunaydin, Michael Sun and Cher Tan.

There’s a ripple of energy in the centre—filled with enthusiasm and curiosity—when the panel steps onstage. What was bustling conversation falls hushed, and it’s then where we’re formally introduced to Eda, Michael and Cher. They briefly explain how they got into criticism. Both Eda and Cher share that displeasure had been their main motivations. On the other hand, Michael recalls his childhood crush on Ryan Gosling and how an overly permissive culture led him to film criticism. It’s both relatable and interesting.

They discuss what spurs their own criticism, and it’s clear it’s all about purpose. Cher cites her motivation to “oscillate from a place of contempt to care,” particularly as she thinks about books and culture. More importantly, as she contextualises her experience living in Singapore (a relatively conservative culture), she raises how criticism works to counteract propaganda that’s especially prevalent in journalism right now. As a writer myself, it’s easy to connect with her. I think of criticism as a necessary means to understand and engage with culture. We condemn parts of culture to signal not only how we feel, but how we can move forward from it.

But it’s easy to relate criticism to a sense of heaviness and responsibility. That’s why Michael reiterates that some pursuit of criticism comes from a place of pleasure. He argues that “something done for pleasure still deserves a place in society”. So consume media. Read all the books. Talk to your peers about them. Leave a review online. No matter what, it’ll come from a place of passion and it’s deliberating. You’ll find others who agree and disagree with you—and that’s what it’s all about.

Unsurprising in such a small-scale industry, criticism brings plenty of risk. Eda insightfully reminds us that “critics are also working writers”, meaning they are not only subject to scrutiny after a negative review, but also “lose access”. She recounts a time when someone had threatened to sue her for merely editing a negative review. It’s the appalling reality most, if not all, critics find themselves in—and it’s also one that aspiring writers get demotivated from. Admittedly, it’s been an ever-lasting fear at the back end of my mind, especially after starting to write reviews. There’d been many reviewing opportunities that I allowed myself to pass on in fear of not liking it enough. As if she’d read my mind or had seen a glimpse of this fear, Cher says the inability to “take risks [in] fear of offending … won’t lead to criticism flourishing”. It’s a wake up call.

It was admittedly hard not to dread the current climate of criticism—undervalued despite its risky nature—during this talk. It’s a constant feeling as someone pursuing a career in the Arts, and I’m sure it’s relatable for many. But Eda, Michael and Cher have hopes for the future. Michael, especially, leaves the audience with something to think about. It’s that “the most generous thing a critic can do is provide a truthful close reading of a work”. As writers and critics, we must be unapologetic in our purpose—only then can we break free.

Liminal Festival’s Critical Limit was held at the Wheeler Centre on 3 August 2024. Eda is a Turkish-Australian essayist and researcher, with works published in the Sydney Review of Books, Meanjin and more. Michael Sun is an award-winning writer and broadcaster at Guardian Australia. Cher Tan is an essayist and critic, with work found in the Sydney Review of Books and more. She is also the editor at Liminal and reviews editor at Meanjin.