Film criticism without the activism
Aesthete: a person who is appreciative of and sensitive to art and beauty.
Conversations around film have become stale. The excitement and celebration of analysis and opinion are now dominated by political ideology. Morality, ethics and political correctness are increasingly prioritised over discussion of plot, character, story, themes, visuals, and style.
Both sides of the political spectrum judge films on how well they align with a particular ideological worldview. Condemnation of art is all too common amongst today’s critics and consumers who are less concerned about a film’s artistic merit than they are about political activism.
This shift has shaped a generation of viewers to see films primarily as vehicles to promote political messaging rather than as works of art.
AESTHETE REVIEWS is committed to viewing film primarily as an art form, placing aesthetics and craft above political bias that clouds the consumer’s ability to recognise artistic merit.
Bringing the conversation back to the art
To return to conversations that excite and intrigue us about the power of cinema to provide immersion, escapism, and intellectual discussion, we must reject the assumption that all art is political.
Political films certainly exist. But to claim that all works of art communicate a political position or are created with this intention is preposterous and incoherent. How are we able to differentiate a political film from those that are not if everything is? Criticism cannot be depoliticised while insisting that every image, narrative, or creative decision must be read as ideological intent.
We must also separate the art from the artist. The artistic quality of a film is not dependent on the moral character of those involved in its creation, nor on controversies surrounding its production. Those who feel the need to preface criticism of a work with public condemnation of controversial figures such as Roman Polanski prioritise social signalling over honest analysis of art. Judgement should be focused on the work itself.
And finally, ethical and moral judgment must be removed from the evaluation of art. AESTHETE REVIEWS rejects the idea that artworks can be harmful. Discomfort is not damage, and offence is not injury. Viewers are responsible for their own emotional responses.
To label art as harmful is to invite censorship. And censorship, however it is justified, ultimately impoverishes culture. Freedom of artistic expression is essential if cinema is to continue evolving, challenging, and enriching the legacy of the medium.
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I’ve attended major film festivals, including:
Cannes Film Festival 2023 & 2024
Venice International Film Festival 2025
Berlin International Film Festival 2020
BFI London Film Festival 2022, 2024 & 2025
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2023
