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I've been saying for a while that good art criticism is, itself, an art form (I first heard that put that way by @kierongillen on @BtGS_pod - two accounts you should be following). Figured it'd be good to tip my hat to a few of my faves working in this field right now: 1/?
Chris Hall runs DLS Reviews: https://www.dlsreviews.com/ - he's widely read in horror, but with a particular penchant for extreme horror/Splatterpunk. Chris gives these much-maligned subgenres in-depth (often spoilery) attention, delivering thoughtful and insightful essays.
Sure, he's a dear friend and mentor and editor, but the fact remains that in addition to being a champion of the horror genre, @GNutsofHorror head honcho Jim Mcleod is also a superb reviewer of horror fiction - thoughtful, emotionaly engaged, honest, and insightful.
Dead End Follies is run by @BenoitLelievre, and covers an eclectic range of music, movies, and books across genres. Benoit is pleasingly strongly opinionated, as well as being articulate and smart; but most of all, brilliantly written: http://www.deadendfollies.com/
Then we have @AlasdairStuart , whose enthusiasm for genre art in the widest possible sense could power the entire national grid in perpetuity. His Full Lid newsletter will give you a much-needed injection of fiercely intelligent enthusiasm every Friday: https://alasdairstuart.com/the-full-lid/
Sure, he's a dear friend and podcast companion, but @_Jack_Graham_ is simply one of the best essayists in pop culture criticism, full stop. Welding fury, intellect, searing political insight and, always, solidarity with the underdog and the oppressed: http://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/author/jack/
And talking of best in the business, @ElSandifer (along with Jack) changed the way I thought about non-fiction. El is *gigantic* influence on My Life In Horror, signposting an approach that gave that project wings. She's an inspiration. Believe the hype: http://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/author/elizabeth/
And the apple didn't fall far from the tree: El's daughter @ballardiangorse is a one-woman challenge to the rest of us to Up Our Game. Writing with a passion and furious humour that I can only envy, and razor-smart, to boot: http://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/author/christine/
And @LookingForTelos recent book on Arachnids in the UK did two things; it made me care about Arachnids in the UK (thanks, and also f you, pal), and made me reconsider my life choice w/r/t academic writing. I had *no idea* that approach could be this good: https://obversebooks.co.uk/product/48-arachnids-in-the-uk/
Then we have @Gabino_Iglesias who, as well as being one of the best writers in the Horror/Crime genre **EVER** also produces outstanding criticism (and metacriticism) via LitReactor: https://litreactor.com/team/gabino-iglesias
Named at the start, the BFS-winning @BtGS_Pod also do great work in promoting genre work; they lean fantasy, but all genre gets a look in, and their focus on women, both as storytellers and characters, is a vital contribution to the ongoing conversation: http://www.breakingtheglassslipper.com/
I'm discovering I could go on all day. @'ve barely scratched the surface. Bottom line: we're living in a golden age of pop culture criticism right now, and we're blessed to have so many amazing writers shearing their brains with us :) Add your own recs below, by all means.
ADDENDUM: Most of the above have Patreons/KoFi's, and/or published works that you can buy for money. Support the voices you want to hear more of, please, if you can. Enough $1-a-month contributions are lifesaving.
ADDENDUM 2: I really *could* have gone on all day. Genuinely no offence to anyone I didn't cover. If I've told you you're awesome I bloody meant it. Write on, all of you. Please.
