Different Viewpoints

I have come to the conclusion that I view the world different from the experts. Whether looking at food, movies, or music, I tend to have a much different way of judging than the experts who are known as critics. When I hear something touted as critically acclaimed, this translates to me that I am probably not going to like it nearly as much. Maybe the reason is that I experience life in a much different way than the critics experience it in their specialty area. Why is that?

One of the significant differences between these experts and myself is education. My college major was social science, the study of history, politics, economics, sociology and psychology. When I graduated with my bachelors of arts degree, I was qualified to teach any of these subjects at the secondary education level. The experts either have degrees in their specialty area and/or experience. So when they encounter whatever they are reviewing, they encounter it from an academic and/or experience viewpoint. When I encounter those same areas, I have the vantage point of an average person with much less background.

Another difference between them and myself is that when they eat a meal, watch a movie, or listen to some music, they are being paid to do so by someone. They take their knowledge and dissect whatever they are reviewing. A critic will take each part and rate those parts individually then give an overall view based on their experience with the parts. When I approach the same item, I come to view it on one basic question: Does it bring me pleasure?

This leads me to explain what creates pleasure for me in these three categories. When speaking of food, I want the taste to be enjoyable; the texture to be right; and the ability of the food to satisfy my hunger and/or craving. With regard to movies, I seek entertainment. Does the movie keep me engaged? Does it create some sort of emotion(s) within me? Will I walk out of the theater wondering how the time passed so quickly or did I feel like it went on forever? Music is a lot like the other two items. I want music to be understandable to me. Can I make sense of the lyrics or melody? Do I feel some emotion when I hear the song? Is a memory or image created in my mind by what I hear?

I think the different approaches which I take to these aspects of life from what a critic might is why I come to a much different conclusion. My approach centers on aesthetics and emotions while a critic looks at the mechanics and details. I want the food, movie, or music to enhance my life in some way. A critic wants these to meet technical criteria. Different viewpoints which lead to different conclusions.

What is your criteria for judging if something is excellent, good, or bad?