Effective criticism resembles conversation and resonates deeply with the idea of understanding, whether in person a text, or film.
Perhaps many other cultural artifact often emerges through dialogue. This isn't just about the critic conversing with their audience, but also about engaging in a dialogue with the work itself.
The example to bring up, the "comedy of remarriage" in classic Hollywood films, beautifully illustrates this point. These films aren't just about divorced or separated couples reuniting; they're about the process of communication and understanding that leads to reconciliation. The witty banter, the verbal sparring, and the eventual resolution all mirror the complexities of real-life conversations.
Moreover, these films are in conversation with Shakespearean comedies on divorce adding another layer of richness to the discussion. It highlights how cultural artifacts don't exist in isolation; they're part of an ongoing dialogue with the past and with other works of art.
In essence, the idea reminds us that criticism isn't just about passing judgment or offering analysis from a distance; it's about engaging deeply with the work and with others in a conversation that enriches our understanding and appreciation of it.
Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s where a divorced or separated couple, played more than once by Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, reunite after relearning how to talk to each other.