Opinion & reviews

Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.

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Agnes Callard's 'Uni-Context' Theory Explains Modern Weirdness opinion-review
Philosopher Agnes Callard, a University of Chicago professor, has developed a theory called the 'uni-context' to explain why the world feels weird. In a conversation with Derek…
Apple TV+ series 'Lucky' reviewed as formulaic thriller by Le Monde opinion-review
Le Monde reviews the Apple TV+ series 'Lucky,' a seven-episode thriller created by Jonathan Tropper. The series follows a young heroine, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who desperately…
Why Hollywood Press Tours Have Become Gimmicky Sideshows opinion-review
The article criticizes the current state of Hollywood press tours, arguing they have devolved into gimmicky, game-filled segments rather than substantive interviews. It highlights…
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Sparks Debate on Adaptation vs. Retelling opinion-review
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' has ignited discussions surrounding the differences between adaptation and retelling, with critics scrutinizing his fresh take on Homer's…
Emmy Voters Snub ‘The Boys’ Despite Cultural Impact opinion-review
The superhero spoof series 'The Boys' received zero Emmy nominations in major categories, according to a New York Times opinion piece. The show, which critiques American culture…
Tech giants name products after Greek gods: a cultural critique opinion-review
A Süddeutsche Zeitung opinion piece criticizes tech billionaires Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk for naming their products after figures from ancient mythology, such as…
Five Key Challenges Facing UK's New Culture Secretary Under PM Burnham opinion-review
Andy Burnham became UK prime minister on 20 July 2026, and his incoming culture secretary faces a packed agenda. Maria Balshaw, former Tate director, urges protecting free museum…
Jens Spahn Criticized for Hypocrisy on Surrogacy and Luxury Real Estate opinion-review
A commentary in the Süddeutsche Zeitung criticizes German politician Jens Spahn (CDU) for alleged hypocrisy. The article highlights Spahn's ability to purchase luxury real estate…
Kierkegaard’s Philosophy of Humor Applied to Dave Chappelle’s Comedy opinion-review
An article applies Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophy of humor to analyze Dave Chappelle’s recent comedy specials, which have sparked controversy for jokes targeting transgender…
Depaving's Lost Radical Edge: From Portland to Italy, a Critical Practice Diluted opinion-review
Born in Portland, Oregon, in 2008 as a radical, disobedient act of removing impermeable surfaces to plant trees, depaving has lost its critical spirit in its European translation.…
The Myth of the Next Generation of Collectors opinion-review
The art market places great hopes on the 'NextGen'—young, digital, and community-oriented collectors. A columnist argues that this generational thinking is misleading and obscures…
German AI Anxiety: Fear of Losing Educational Privileges opinion-review
A commentary in der Freitag argues that German skepticism toward artificial intelligence is not uniform but class-based. While AI surveillance of precarious workers is widely…
Essay explores why 'dark' prefixes dominate political thought from right to left opinion-review
A new essay by Diedrich Diederichsen examines the proliferation of 'dark' prefixes in contemporary political theory, from Curtis Yarvin's 'Dark Enlightenment' and Javier Milei's…
Netflix's short-form bet risks eroding its brand identity opinion-review
Netflix announced an investment in short-form video to compete with YouTube, a move criticized as a 'race to the bottom' by documentary filmmaker Evan Williams. The streaming…
Why the same artists keep winning grants: it's not rigged, it's untranslated opinion-review
Cat Dibley, an arts funding specialist with over 13 years of experience as an applicant, assessor, and program designer, argues that the perception of arts grants being rigged is…
Poleo Painemal and Claudia Rodríguez: Queer Spirituality as Ancestral Science Fiction opinion-review
In a compelling article for Artishock Revista, Rox Gómez Tapia explores the influence of Mapuche travesti artist Poleo Painemal and the late author Claudia Rodríguez, who passed…
Why Your Creative Peers Are the Worst Target Audience for Your Art opinion-review
A photographer withheld a stylized image of a horse charging through water for over two years after traditionalist peers criticized her muted palettes, aggressive texturing, and…
Anna Weyant and the Blurring of Artist and Influencer opinion-review
A recent Substack newsletter emphasizes the significance of personal branding for artists, focusing on Anna Weyant, Jeanine Brito, and Chloe Wise, who have adeptly crafted their…
Shai Hoffmann Calls for German 'Staatsräson 2.0' on Middle East Policy opinion-review
In 2025, antisemitic crimes in Germany reached a record high of over 6,500 cases. Activist and social entrepreneur Shai Hoffmann, whose parents emigrated from Israel to Germany in…
Semiotics of the Soccer Field: Art, Politics, and the World Cup Final opinion-review
The article analyzes the 2026 World Cup final between a European team and a South American team through a semiotic and artistic lens, comparing the geometric, bureaucratic passing…
Chaplin's Modern Times and the AI-driven post-work society opinion-review
The article by Lelio Demichelis and Anita Romanello on Doppiozero draws a parallel between Charlie Chaplin's 'Modern Times' and the current digital age, questioning how far we…
Could the UK Rejoin the EU as a Special Administrative Region? Lessons from Hong Kong opinion-review
An opinion article examines the theoretical possibility of the United Kingdom re-entering the European Union with a unique administrative status, drawing comparisons to Hong…
Can scrolling feeds become a tool for learning? opinion-review
A scoping review published in June 2026 on the Journal of Social Media Research (Avcı et al.) analyzing 50 empirical studies defines doomscrolling as a 'repetitive, prolonged, and…
Dave Eggers dismisses AI novels as 'gullible and ridiculous' opinion-review
Author Dave Eggers has criticized the adoption of AI in novel writing, calling it 'gullible and ridiculous' and expressing frustration with constant technological change. In an…
Gen Z Drives Cultural Revival as Older Reading Declines opinion-review
A roundup of cultural trends reveals that younger generations are revitalizing reading and communal experiences, while older Americans' reading time has nearly halved since 2003.…
NZZ Review: Novel 'Michaela Kohlhaas' Fails Kleist's Model opinion-review
A review in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung criticizes the novel 'Michaela Kohlhaas' for failing to live up to Heinrich von Kleist's original 'Michael Kohlhaas.' The reviewer notes that…
Gracie Abrams' 'Daughter From Hell' album reviewed: sharp lyrics, muted production opinion-review
Gracie Abrams' third album 'Daughter From Hell' showcases her confessional songwriting but is let down by Aaron Dessner's muted production, according to a BBC review. The…
Monocle editor warns against AI's 'Botox' effect on writing opinion-review
Andrew Tuck, editor of Monocle, recounts receiving a pitch from a respected writer that an AI checker flagged as 70% AI-generated. He describes the telltale signs: hollow…
AI-Created Music and the Lessons of Copyright History opinion-review
The challenge posed by generative AI to copyright law, which aims to safeguard human creativity, is significant, as this technology can create songs, images, and texts almost…
Appiah Warns AI May Erode Moral Character and Autonomy opinion-review
Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah, in a lengthy essay for Humanist Review, argues that AI's impact on moral character demands attention beyond mere performance metrics. Drawing on…
Bärbel Bohley: The Untold Story Beyond the Documentary opinion-review
A new documentary, 'Tagebuch einer Auflehnung' (Diary of a Rebellion), attempts to capture the life of Bärbel Bohley, a key figure in the East German opposition movement during…
Why artists should (and shouldn't) blog opinion-review
Blogging offers artists four major benefits: it helps uncover deeper meaning in their work, attracts more viewers by building content on a controlled platform, establishes…
Pazifismus in Deutschland: Neue Stimmen gegen Aufrüstung opinion-review
In Deutschland melden sich nach Alice Schwarzer nun auch Ilija Trojanow und Mithu Sanyal kritisch zur Aufrüstung zu Wort. Seit Beginn des Ukraine-Kriegs hat sich die Diskurslage…
Sales Problems Are Exposure Problems, Not Style Issues opinion-review
A gallery owner argues that artists' lack of sales is almost never due to their aesthetic choices but rather an exposure problem. The article introduces the concept of a 'sales…
Older Americans Drive Decline in Reading Time opinion-review
Reading time among older Americans has plummeted since 2003, accounting for most of the overall decline in reading. In 2003, adults aged 55 and older read an average of 58.5…
Gen Z Drives Return to Shared Cultural Experiences opinion-review
A New York Times opinion piece observes that young people, particularly Gen Z, are increasingly choosing collective cultural experiences over solitary screen time. The author…
Uwe Steimle's Stauffenberg Remarks at AfD Event Spark Debate opinion-review
Actor and cabaret artist Uwe Steimle sparked controversy by invoking Stauffenberg and the July 20 plot in a speech at an AfD event in Dessau. Matthias Brandt, in a Süddeutsche…
Putin's Russia Cultivates Soviet Nostalgia as Hollow Retro-Utopia opinion-review
Russia's Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin has publicly expressed a desire to return to the Soviet Union, reflecting the Kremlin's broader promotion of Soviet…
Understanding Art Pricing: How to Know If You're Getting a Fair Deal opinion-review
The art market is known for its lack of transparency, lacking established pricing guidelines or regulatory oversight. Valuations are influenced by factors such as supply and…
Harald Martenstein defends AfD in Thalia Theater speech, Andreas Püttmann counters opinion-review
Harald Martenstein, a former DKP member who now identifies as a "Rechter" (right-winger), caused controversy with his speech "Prozess gegen Deutschland" at Hamburg's Thalia…

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