When you review your favorite movie, it makes sense to avoid interjecting with personal commentary. You don’t want to seem unobjective; that would make your criticism less potent.

When arguing, it makes sense to avoid bringing up context that would hurt your position. You want to be right — at any cost

But an opinion without context is incomplete. A criticism without commentary is, too. Whether it be an analysis of the bigger picture or an assessment of the minute details, commentary is strengthened by conversation. To expand our commentary prowess, and in honor of clashing perspectives, seven Arts and six Opinion writers collaborated to create a crossover B-Side filled with takedowns of video game genres, musings on film adaptations and re-examinations of classic books. This is the Context (Commentary) B-Side, presented by The Michigan Daily’s Arts and Opinion sections.

Managing Arts Editors Cora Rolfes and Campbell Johns and Editorial Page Editors Elena Nicholson and Gabe Efros can be reached at corolfes@umich.edu, caajohns@umich.edu, elenagn@umich.edu and gefros@umich.edu, respectively.