Andrija Razum:
Criticism Is an Art

Hello! My name is Andrija, and I come from Požega — or more precisely, from a small village on the edge of the city. I am currently studying journalism at the Faculty of Political Science in Zagreb, where I plan to complete both my undergraduate and, potentially, my doctoral degree.

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Ever since I was a child, I have been in love with stories. Whether as a listener, a reader, or a viewer, I could never resist the charm of the written word — born in someone else’s imagination — into which I am free to step, carefree and curious. It was only natural, then, that I wanted to share that gratitude for the arts with others.

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Journalism always seemed like the most consistent craft for that purpose. For me, criticism is a form of art in itself — one that offers the reader a deeper understanding of a work and invites them to connect with it in a deeply personal way, in the space between their own feelings and the observations of the critic.

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Although I have always carried this love, it truly blossomed in high school, when I began writing reviews for my school magazine and publishing investigative articles for the film portal kinofilm.hr. I fell into the rhythm of the work and felt something I could not quite put into words — which is ironic, I know. It was simply it. I knew I wanted to use journalism as a platform to draw attention to the things that matter to me, seen through the lens of film and literature.

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For me, art is a concept that — for better or worse — has no universal explanation. It is something we all know and feel, yet cannot fully articulate. The sense that it can change the world is just as tangible as the covers between which a book is printed, or the strip of film on which light creates the illusion of moving images. Whatever analogy you choose, the power of art is deeply tied to people — to our inner world. Perhaps it is precisely that fragility that gives it its strength: the understanding that it gives back only as much as you put in, and that it will outlive our existence on this earth. Many years from now, when we are gone, art will be one of the few signs that we were beings who felt and loved — not merely creatures driven by the violent expansion of territory and the building of toxic factories.

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In the face of the invasive omnipresence of artificial intelligence, it is more important than ever to preserve that fragment of our human integrity and to keep creating. That is precisely why I chose journalism. I see many challenges ahead — highs and lows, certainties and unknowns. I do not know what awaits me at the end of this road, if it has an end at all. But if nothing else — I know I will enjoy the journey.

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Andrija