Most artists think of their art as an attempt to establish a dialogue with the observer. The artist's message cannot exist without someone else to absorb it and, perhaps, offer an alternative view. It is this relationship between separate interpretations of an artist's creation that generates conversations and myriad appreciations of artistic endeavor. Because dialogues require equal effort from both artist and observer, the critic can use his or her body of knowledge to facilitate the exchange of ideas. The author of the passage mentions that the role of art critics is to