"Television is the first truly democratic culture - the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want." -- Clive Barnes

Clive Alexander Barnes, CBE (May 13, 1927 – November 19, 2008) was a British-born American writer and critic. Barnes was educated at Emanuel School, and St. Catherine's College, Oxford. He was the chief dance, drama and opera critic for the New York Post.

From 1965 to 1977 he was dance and/or theater critic for the New York Times, the most powerful position he has held, since its theater critics' reviews historically have had great influence on the success or failure of Broadway productions.

Barnes was the dance and drama critic at the New York Post since 1978, and senior consulting editor at Dance Magazine, where he wrote a monthly column, "Attitudes". He also continued to edit and write for British newspapers such as The Times and the Daily Express, and the weekly Spectator magazine.

Barnes authored numerous books related to theater and the performing arts, particularly dance. These include four volumes of 50 Best Plays of the American Theatre, nine series of Best American Plays (with John Gassner), American Ballet Theatre: A 25 Year Retrospective (with Elizabeth Kaye), Masters of Movement: Portraits of America's Great Choreographers (with Rose Eichenbaum), Ballet in Britain Since the War, Frederick Ashton and his Ballets, New York Times Directory of the Theater, Ballet Here and Now, Dance Scene USA, Inside American Ballet Theatre, as well as biographies of Tennessee Williams and Rudolf Nureyev.

Regarding television, Barnes said, "It is the first truly democratic culture, the first culture available to everyone and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want" (New York Times, December 30, 1969).

He is also widely believed to have said this about his profession: "A critic is someone who rides in after the battle and shoots the wounded."