Olivier Neveux's 'Brecht et les mauvais temps nouveaux' Explores Art-Politics Tension

In a literary column by Tiphaine Samoyault, Olivier Neveux's book 'Brecht et les mauvais temps nouveaux' is examined. The work returns to Bertolt Brecht to probe the persistent tension between art and politics. Neveux's analysis situates Brecht's legacy within contemporary debates, arguing that the playwright's methods remain relevant for understanding how aesthetic forms engage with political crises. Samoyault's review, published in Le Monde on June 25, 2026, highlights Neveux's focus on Brecht's 'bad new times'—a phrase that resonates with current uncertainties. The book does not offer a biographical study but rather a theoretical intervention, using Brecht's plays and essays to question the autonomy of art and its capacity for critique. Neveux contends that Brecht's dialectical approach, which refuses to separate artistic practice from political commitment, offers a model for navigating today's cultural landscape. Samoyault praises the book's rigor and its refusal to simplify Brecht's contradictions. The column underscores how Neveux's scholarship contributes to ongoing discussions about the role of intellectuals and artists in times of crisis. No other details about the book's publication date or publisher are provided.