Kritiikki

Kritiikki is the Finnish term for critique or criticism. It denotes the evaluative analysis of works of art, performances, literature, film, and other cultural products, as well as the process of forming and expressing judgments about quality, significance, or value. The word is closely related to kriittinen (critical) and kriitik (critic); together they form the core vocabulary of the Finnish critical tradition, where kriitiikki also appears as an umbrella term for the published assessments produced by professionals and amateurs alike.

In practice, kritiikki appears in newspapers, journals, magazines, and increasingly online platforms, and is a key component of cultural discourse. Professional critics, or kriitikot, compose reviews that balance description, interpretation, and argument, often situating a work within historical and stylistic contexts. Critics may influence reception, public funding debates, and teaching, as well as guide audiences’ choices. The practice also includes academic criticism, where kritiikki extends to theoretical analysis of texts and media, applying methods from literary theory, film studies, and related fields.

The Finnish critical tradition has evolved with media changes, expanding from printed reviews in the 19th and 20th centuries to digital criticism and user-generated responses today. While criticism can provoke debate and controversy, it remains a central mechanism for evaluating cultural production and stimulating discussion about art and society.

See also: criticism, literary criticism, film criticism, art criticism.