Matti Linnavuori

Matti Linnavuori is a writer, translator, critic. BA at the University of Helsinki 1977 with majors in Comparative Lit, English and Russian, a private Sanoma School of Journalism 1980. He writes criticism on theatre and television since 1980 for Finnish newspapers and periodicals. He is also writer, co-writer, translator of radio plays for YLE Finnish Broadcasting Company since 1992, and director since 1997. From 2003 to 2008 he wrote articles for Latvian periodical Teatra Vestnesis. He was a board member of the Finnish Critics Association between years 1998-2002. Since 2009 he is a member of the editorial board with Critical Stages the IATC web journal.

In his essay entitled "Whose performance is it anyway?" Matti Linnavuori looks into the non-material possession of a performance and asks who has the last word in deciding on its quality or essence, hoping to find the voice of an inter-critic among those deemed entitled to decide. Direct interference with a performance on the part of a critic is not encouraged, while interventions involving viewers are usually regarded as a performers’ exclusive right. Linnavuori gives the example of an extreme inter-critical accident to present in a relaxed manner the unassuming proposition that past practices were superior: a critic steps in to the gallery and, dissatisfied with what he has seen, tries to rape the artist in her bed. Using this light backdrop, he presents several compelling viewpoints on established tendencies followed by international critical and curatorial practices.