How critical is it, that a critic is a critic?

I thought I'd join the debate started months back and picked up by The Guardian's Karen Fricker; and thus me: How critical is it, that a critic, is a critic? Hello Band Wagon!

It's been rumbling in my stomach for a while now, this endless restlessness that began life in the beating entity in my chest, torn between entertainment and evaluation, or to put it more literally, to be an actor or a critic? Of course, I know the answer: an actor, always... but, why? If I want to have a massively informed, intellectual, creditable view on the world and I want to have an impact on others’ views, then surely I should want to share the final view, A.K.A.: that of the reviewer- so I can influence, the already influenced viewer. Non?

And so I delved into my head and went traipsing through the files marked 'Unnecessary worry' and 'What about my lifestyle?' which as a training artist, I have conveniently shoved under the endless copies of The Stage, Timeout and The Evening Standard, presumably in hope that I may fool myself or consciously subconsciously somehow(?)divert myself away from the practicalities of being '90% out of work' or better still working... but in a coffee shop! So as I delved deeper into what I'd planned to casually breeze past in my life planning, I actually managed to interrogate, only to realise: 'Money is not everything' and 'I can make it!'.

Decision made then: I picked out the scary files and actually used them to propel me into sheer motivation and fuel, if you will, to succeed as an actor!! Whoopie! All good so far... until the daily (treble) inbox spring clean (the old school MSN Messenger fit__lady02 account; the University mail account; and the I'm all grown-up and pro-fesssh-un-al don't cha know 'lauren_gauge' account) occurred; and in this daily/spring clean I stumbled across an opportunity.

Now, a gal like moi and an opportunity like c'elle-ci, equals a jolly excited lass pining for something she shouldn't really focus her attention to: A Grad Scheme Journalist Job at.. wait for it... The Telegraph(admittedly it could have been The Guardian! But at this point I. Am. Chuffed. Thrilled. Eager. and Excited.)

Needless to say I drop everything, my hopes and dreams of acting forever and ever (what a horrid flimsy phrase-that still fills me with warmth and hope as it did aged 'nearly six') and CTRL+C, CTRL+V the link to loved ones in search of their 'review' and valued opinions: luckily my chap's father is a crackingly great and over qualified journalist and encouraged me from the word GO! 'Lollie- You go for it!' ...

Time passes.

The deadline for the application is Monday November 30th, 3 days away and true to form I have not started it.
What does this say to me? (I interrogate myself objectively)
I cannot hit deadlines all that well, SO...
a) NEVER BE A JOURNALIST LAUREN!
or
b) GO CRAZY! DO IT! APPLY! STAY UP ALL NIGHT JUGGLING YOUR DEGREE, THESIS PITCH, REHEARSAL IDEAS, ESSAY PLANNING AND WRITING- THERE's STILL TIME!

Answer? b) -EVERYTIME. So I am choosing not to be a critic and not to be an actor: I am choosing to attempt both! Brilliant!

I figure, if you can't beat them, try your best to join them- I have no idea if I would make a fabulous critic or a groundbreaking actor- and in answer to the debate of who is the best critic? The Critic or The Joe Public... I think The Critic started out as Joe Public- Conclusion being: Ultimately everyone's opinon is valid. Therefore, you can be whatever you try really, really, hard to be! So whether I feel qualified to be a Telegraph journalist or not- I am going to TRY. Similarly whether I feel qualified to be an actor or not- I am going to TRY...

...Because frankly I love both and I feel strongly that if you are passionate about something (anything!)and you truly invest your every ounce of time and effort, sweat and tears into researching your passion and finding out everything about the world in which you live and the industry in which you so avidly want to work, you will at least then be equipped to form an opinion. It is then that informed opinion that justifies you having 'something to say, worth saying' as a living breathing human being (be it an artist, critic or otherwise) in this world!