kritíkkritika

kritíkkritika is a term used in contemporary critical theory to denote a meta-criticism practice that examines how criticism itself is produced, circulated, and legitimized. It treats evaluative discourse as a social and institutional artifact, asking who decides what counts as valuable judgment, how canons are formed, and where power is located in the acts of evaluation. In this view, critiquing criticism becomes a project in understanding culture as a system of judgments rather than as a set of neutral properties.

Etymology-wise, the term blends roots related to critique and critical judgment, emphasizing the reflexive examination of criticism as a practice rather than only its objects. It is deployed across disciplines such as literary studies, film and media studies, philosophy, and sociology, often in discussions about the politics of taste and the dynamics of academic and editorial authority.

Practically, kritíkkritika employs methods from discourse analysis, history of criticism, and reflexive or meta-analytical case studies. Analysts scrutinize editorial policies, award criteria, peer-review processes, and audience reception to reveal biases, blind spots, and power relations that shape what is preserved, challenged, or discarded in cultural discourse. The aim is not to dismiss criticism but to clarify its conditions and consequences.

Critiques of the approach note risks of over-intellectualization, potential self-referentiality, and methodological vagueness. Proponents argue that a transparent examination of critical practices can improve accountability, broaden perspectives, and illuminate how cultural judgments are constructed.

See also: critical theory, meta-criticism, reflexivity.