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| I took a picture with her but I respect her wishes not to post it. |
New
York Times critic, Janet Maslin, came to Pace
University on the Westchester campus last week on Wednesday from 6-8 P.M. in
the Choate House Art Gallery. Maslin is currently a book critic and the
president of the Jacob Burns Film Center, which now has five theater
locations.
Dean Nira Herrmann interviewed Maslin
about her career as a book and film critic for The New York Times. Maslin discussed her approach to criticism, the
challenges of reading numerous books, and explained why she left film for
books.
Maslin began discussing her early
career as a movie critic, where she reviewed films for 23 years. She also
mentioned how so many things changed since she started, like competing with the
Rotten Tomatoes website, along with other critics who now have the
freedom to post anything online.
As a film critic, she believed she
should report a little bit of the movie as if the person had never seen it
before. She tried to look at each film differently without preoccupation. As
far as the process of what she was assigned to review, she explained that the
chief critic would decide. For years she worked with Vincent Canby, who she
describes as an elegant writer. She eventually became a chief critic herself.
At an early age, Maslin was obsessed
with films. Her favorite movie is Lawrence of Arabia.
“I saw it maybe 25 times,” Maslin said. “It was like a Broadway show; there was an intermission. I just loved that kind of big screen experience."
Maslin talked about how she grew up in
a very pop culture centered house. She also read a lot of books, which
she said naturally turned into work. The reason why she stopped reviewing films
was because she felt burned out.
“When you start, everything is
exciting, but then it becomes tedious because you're just filling up space,”
Maslin said. “I wanted to quit but they offered me the book critic job.
Stay home, read books, and not go into the office? It was a fresh, new thing.”
She said that it’s much harder to
review books because it requires highlighting, note taking, etc. However, Maslin
said it's much easier than writing a book, which she said she would never do.
It takes up more of her time to review a book than watching a movie that lasts
two hours. Yet, she likes reviewing books much better.
Herrmann asked about getting into the
business and for students who are interested, Maslin provided her positive
expertise about getting into this field.
“For students who are interested, I
don't think there have been any more opportunities than there are now,” Maslin
said. “What you study here is not occupational. It just prepares you.”
Malsin also revealed that she
took a film class and received a D.
“There are no qualifications. If
you do it, do it well.”
When asked if reading is disappearing
she said: “Absolutely not. I think book clubs pick terrible things."
She spoke about a novel that was
released last year called “We Are Not Ourselves” by Matthew Thomas. Although
her son is not big on reading, she said that he read the entire book, even
though it was 600 pages in length.
"If the right book comes along,
people will read."
The interview was followed by a Q&A
so that students/professors had free reign to ask her any questions they
wanted.
One student asked about her favorite
genre, which is mystery books and crime fiction/film. When she started writing
for The New York Times they didn't
have her reviewing these types of books. Even though she enjoys reading
mystery and crime books, she is a very eclectic reader.
“I’m interested in anything if it's
interesting,” Maslin said.
Even though she isn't a movie critic
anymore, she was asked if she caught herself viewing movies in the same way
as she did when she was a critic.
“It's really fun not to have an
opinion,” Maslin said. It's nice being able to have an informed conversation.”
Because she now works for the Jacob Burns Film Center, she added, “If I gave my
opinion for everything, we'd be out of business."
"It was a great event,"
Gabriel Solano, sophomore and Communications major said. "She spoke with
experience and was lighthearted."
Pace University students really enjoyed
Maslin taking time to come and speak with them, but one student thought that
her views might be a bit outdated.
"Her opinions on the critic world
now and then had me question her ideas because times are changing," Susan
Harris, president of Unity and Social Justice of SGA (Student Government
Association) said. "Overall, her insight and legendary status in the film
and critic world brought on many great changes that are of importance today. It
was wonderful meeting this dynamic woman."
Want to see movies at the Jacob Burns
Film Center? Check out https://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/
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