Snark Attack

Janna Monji has an interesting essay over at LA Examiner about critics and their need to “snark”. It was in response to Roger Ebert’s snark in response to Nikki Finke’s LIVE snarking on the Oscars.

Gasp. I’m all snarked out.

Here’s Ebert:

Snarking is cultural vandalism. I have arrived at this conclusion belatedly. I have been guilty of snarking, and of enjoying snarks….A snarker is one who snarks. the word is said to be a combination of snide and remark…What concerns me is that snark functions as a device to punish human spontaneity, eccentricity, non-conformity and simple error. Everyone is being snarked into line. All celebrities are under unremitting scrutiny.

And here’s Janna’s response with some nice introspection:

If I start to take myself too seriously as a critic, I remind myself that art critics didn’t find Vincent Van Gogh particularly interesting when he was alive. He only sold one painting. This alone should remind critics that we should snark else we’ll look ridiculous to future generations if we are remembered at all. I doubt that Dorothy Parker wanted to be remembered as a minor side note to Katharine Hepburn’s career. Don’t we all want to be known or remembered based on real talent and real achievements?

All I have to say is, “Snark You!”

Snort.