What makes a 'good' anime review blog? Better yet, what makes a good anime review writer? Who's the one judging: the general populace, fan boys, or other anime critics? Writers don't exist in isolation, because if they did, they'd be wasting their time; no one wants to assume the world does not care to read their thoughts. Like any artistic means of expression, review writing unveils a personal experience with the content in question. In order to avoid seeming like an over-opinionated boob with no point of reference, comparing the reviewed content with a similar work is also common practice. "Anime review blog" is almost a contradiction of terms; whereas a 'review' or 'critique' implies importance (misplaced or otherwise), 'blog' or 'journal' often connotes simpler writing and less concern with grammar, technique, or even political correctness. How much of one's writing should pander to the tastes of the internet youth, who tend to utilize social networking sites for uploading pictures and reblogging them? Does anyone bother to actually read a review, or are the photos what the public looks forward to? When does craft and artistry give way to popular demand and business ventures? Is the writer truly a long-dead figure, a maverick in a world that replaces text with neon pictograms and GUI? And if so, where does that leave the last generation of writers? Will the job market cast them aside in favor of video game and software developers? Has imagery come full circle and supplanted writing as the world's primary mode of communication?
Did I make a mistake in choosing to become a writer? Or do my values simply need to change, so that my dignity and pride are stomped into the ground in favor of ever-morphing trends? When Facebook and Tumblr and Pintrest fade from memory, having since evolved into an even greater telecommunications matrix, what will I be doing with my writing? What form will logos take? Will that practice be part of my world anymore, or will I have moved on, conquering challenges unknown, surmounting summits unimaginable, distancing myself from the juvenile blog writings of yesteryear?
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