Opinion & reviews

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• Islamist Extremism in German Institutional Islam opinion-review

  The article discusses the aftermath of a knife attack in Berlin, where the perpetrator's potential connections are still under investigation. It argues that institutionalized…

• Gary Grimes on why celebrities struggle to be taken seriously as visual artists opinion-review

  In a cultural piece for It's Nice That, Gary Grimes examines the challenges faced by celebrities seeking recognition as visual artists, mentioning Adrien Brody, Jack White, Ed…

• Joanna Murray-Smith's irreverent adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya premieres in Melbourne opinion-review

  Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith has penned a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, now playing at Arts Centre Melbourne until 22 August, directed by Melbourne…

• Velten Schäfer beklagt mangelndes Niveau westlicher Politiker opinion-review

  In einem Gastbeitrag für den Freitag stellt Velten Schäfer fest, dass anti-westliche Politiker oft mehr „Format“ besäßen als westliche. Er räumt ein, dass der Wunsch nach…

• Beetlejuice musical's early closure highlights Brisbane theatre crisis opinion-review

  The Australian production of Beetlejuice the Musical closed in Brisbane four weeks early, with future runs in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney cancelled entirely. Only Melbourne, where…

• Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro' Offers Unfailing Optimism in Troubled Times opinion-review

  In a personal essay published on Reactor Mag, the author reflects on how Hayao Miyazaki's 1988 Studio Ghibli film 'My Neighbor Totoro' provides a counterpoint to contemporary…

• Italian Art Critic Launches Euro Banknote Design Review opinion-review

  An Italian art critic has extended their book cover critique series to Euro banknote designs, inviting readers to vote on the most and least aesthetically pleasing bills. The…

• Is Substack Worth It for Artists? Practical Minimalism in Marketing opinion-review

  In a recent essay on Art Marketing News, Barney advocates for practical minimalism when artists consider new platforms like Substack. He argues that Substack is only valuable if…

• Oskar Eustis on the Future of Nonprofit Theatre opinion-review

  Oskar Eustis, a prominent figure in American theatre, suggests that the era of nonprofit theatre as traditionally known may be ending, but he views this as a positive development.…

• IMAX's Brand Dilution and the Hidden Value of Quality Control opinion-review

  IMAX has become synonymous with premium moviegoing, but its brand is deeply inconsistent. Of 417 U.S. IMAX theaters, only about 50 have the original square screens, and just half…

• J.F. Martel's 'Reclaiming Art' Insights on AI and Artistic Resonance opinion-review

  In a newsletter essay titled 'Making the Same Different: The Art AI Cannot Make,' Clint draws on J.F. Martel's 2015 book 'Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice' to argue that AI,…

• Female desire controlled from antiquity to today's sex recession opinion-review

  A Freitag article examines the historical shift in perceptions of female sexuality, contrasting ancient views of women as sexually insatiable with modern declines in sexual…

• Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Sparks Right-Wing Backlash Over Black and Trans Casting opinion-review

  Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey has drawn criticism from American conservatives, not for its narrative about the consequences of breaking tradition, but…

• A Classicist's Critique of Classicists on Nolan's Odyssey opinion-review

  A former classicist turned art blogger critiques how classicists engage with Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, arguing their expertise in ancient texts does not extend to film…

• Roberto Ago's Critique of Relational Art at MAXXI opinion-review

  Roberto Ago's critical review of the exhibition '1:1. L'Arte Relazionale' at MAXXI in Rome, curated by Nicolas Bourriaud, argues that relational art suffers from three fundamental…

• Kylie Minogue's 'Padam Padam' Divides Partygoers and Homebodies opinion-review

  The New Yorker's Songs of Summer column examines Kylie Minogue's 2023 hit 'Padam Padam', characterizing it as a solid, danceable pop track that barely registers with…

• DDR-Kulturkampf: Stanislawski gegen Brecht 1953 opinion-review

  Am 17. Juni 1953 empfahl die SED den Theatern im östlichen Sektor Deutschlands, die Inszenierungen des sowjetischen Regisseurs Konstantin Stanislawski zu adaptieren. Diese…

• Gallerist Nicola Mafessoni Reflects on Art Market, Buñuel, and a Torrid July opinion-review

  In "Il Sole allo Zenit #56: Quell'oscuro mese di luglio," gallerist Nicola Mafessoni contemplates a July marked by soaring temperatures and art transactions. He successfully…

• Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' praised as faithful Homer adaptation opinion-review

  Historian Fabien Bièvre-Perrin, a specialist in the reception of Antiquity, argues in a Le Monde op-ed that Christopher Nolan's film 'The Odyssey' is likely one of the most…

• Bob Dylan's 2026 Zurich Concert: Mumbling as Anti-AI Resistance opinion-review

  Bob Dylan is scheduled to perform at Zurich's Hallenstadion on November 1, 2026. The author expresses ambivalence, citing recent concert footage showing a sparse setlist, a…

• Musk's anti-‘Odyssey’ campaign fails as Nolan film grosses $260M opinion-review

  Elon Musk launched a months-long online campaign against Christopher Nolan's film 'The Odyssey,' accusing it of 'woke' casting and disrespecting Homer. Despite Musk's attacks, the…

• Hotel Renovations: Why Changing What Works Alienates Loyal Guests opinion-review

  In a Monocle column, Tyler Brûlé critiques the trend of hotel renovations that prioritize innovation over tradition, arguing that many guests prefer consistency. He recounts a…

• Colombia's Culture Ministry: Gains and Looming Threats opinion-review

  Writer Giuseppe Ramírez assesses Colombia's Ministry of Culture, highlighting the 2024 critique of the Portafolio de Estímulos and the ensuing conversation. Decentralization…

• New generation of designers aims to revive luxury fashion's emotional connection opinion-review

  Matthieu Blazy, Jonathan Anderson, Grace Wales Bonner, Daniel Roseberry, and Duran Lantink are leading a creative resurgence in luxury fashion, focusing on rebuilding emotional…

• Can Casinos and Shopping Malls Become Cultural Venues? opinion-review

  The article explores the hybridization of culture and commerce, arguing that casinos and shopping malls can serve as cultural venues, providing economic resources for cultural…

• Historians praise Nolan's 'Odyssey' for complex gender portrayal opinion-review

  Historians Lydie Bodiou and Véronique Mehl, authors of a 'Dictionary of Masculinities in Ancient Greece', stated in an interview with Le Monde that Christopher Nolan's film…

• The Pitch as Creative Extraction opinion-review

  The author critiques the long-standing practice of creative pitching, arguing that it has become a system of uncompensated labor where ideas are given away for free. Tracing the…

• Why Studios Should Refuse to Pitch opinion-review

  The author argues that creative studios should refuse speculative pitches, which are described as auditions that extract thinking without establishing worth. Internally, saying no…

• The Hidden Costs of Unpaid Creative Pitches opinion-review

  Unpaid pitches in the creative industry consume significant resources, primarily time, which is the most valuable currency in today's economy. These hidden costs are not reflected…

• Elon Musk Vows AI-Made 'Odyssey' Amid Nolan's Diverse Casting Controversy opinion-review

  Elon Musk has threatened to produce a full-length AI-generated movie of Homer's 'The Odyssey' using his Grok Imagine platform, claiming it will be 'historically accurate and true…

• Psychoanalyst and Boxer Debate America's Gambling Addiction opinion-review

  In a conversation for CULTURED magazine, psychoanalyst Jamieson Webster and filmmaker/boxing gym founder Jay Bulger examine the psychology and societal impact of America's…

• Elon Musk's Campaign Against Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Fails to Impact Box Office opinion-review

  Elon Musk has been publicly criticizing Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey' for months, accusing the film of lacking 'historical accuracy' and targeting the…

• The Fired Assistant's Revenge: A Rant on Christian Marclay's 'The Clock' opinion-review

  In a first-person essay published on Artillery Magazine, a former assistant to Christian Marclay recounts being fired from the production of Marclay's 24-hour art film 'The Clock'…

• Netflix's Binge Model Fails as Second-Season Viewership Plummets opinion-review

  Netflix's all-at-once release strategy, which disrupted traditional weekly TV schedules, is now showing signs of failure as second-season viewership for major series has…

• Nolan's 'Odyssey' as a Canvas for Culture War Debates opinion-review

  A New York Times opinion piece argues that Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey' is less a faithful retelling and more a mapping of contemporary Western…

• Tate director urged to display more stored art opinion-review

  In a letter to the editor, Simon Rew of London advises the new Tate director, Jessica Morgan, to display more of the institution's stored art. Rew notes that large areas of Tate…

• Why Leftists Should Attend Bayreuth Festival opinion-review

  Axel Brüggemann argues that leftists should attend the Bayreuth Festival, countering the perception that it is a right-wing event. He highlights that Richard Wagner was a radical…

• AKQA CEO Helder Santo warns against using AI to eliminate productive doubt opinion-review

  In an opinion piece for Design Observer, AKQA CEO Helder Santo argues that technology, particularly AI, is removing the productive friction of doubt that drives collaboration and…

• Gen Z May Be Killing an Unhealthy Version of Architecture, Rajesh Advani Argues opinion-review

  In a recent discussion, Rajesh Advani asserts that Generation Z is not undermining architecture but is instead advocating for healthier designs. Architect Utkarsha Fuller supports…

• The Strokes' 'Reality Awaits' drowns in Auto-Tune opinion-review

  The Strokes' seventh album, 'Reality Awaits,' released on July 24, 2026, has been criticized for excessive use of Auto-Tune and synthetic production. Despite two strong tracks,…