In My Opinion ...

We all like to have our five cents’ worth, giving our take on what is going on around us, whether it’s a friend’s choice of clothing (probably muttered out of earshot) or what’s playing down at the megaplex. Some of us even make it our profession, becoming the much-feared Critic ready to pounce on the piffle and drub the dross.

It used to be the case in Indonesia that there were critics with a critical eye for movies, music and art. Today, as M. Taufiqurrahman writes in this month’s centerpiece, they are a dying breed. Ironically, with the rise of PR and new media, it’s tough to be a critic in the reform era, with most of those posing as critics only offering tame reviews and plot summaries.

Critical thinking takes many form, from being an astute consumer in making important purchases (it’s not just about checking the sodium content on the label) to learning to think out of the box, in our careers and lives. Another side is critic’s choices on the best restaurants, hangouts and music stores in town. Read up on our picks of the best of the rest in Jakarta – hopefully you will find something to your liking.

+ Bruce Emond

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