The Critic As Artist

In 'The Critic as Artist' - arguably the most complete exploration of his aesthetic thinking, and certainly the most entertaining - Oscar Wilde harnesses his famous wit to demolish the supposed boundary between art and criticism. The essay takes the form of a leisurely dialogue between two characters: Ernest, who insists upon Wilde's own belief in art's freedom from societal mandates and values, and a quizzical Gilbert. With his playwright's ear for dialogue, Wilde champions idleness and contemplation as prerequisites to artistic cultivation.