Opinion & reviews

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

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Debate: The Age of Dilettantes Threatens German Cultural Policy opinion-review
A critical opinion piece in Süddeutsche Zeitte argues that cities like Munich and Berlin are dangerously mismanaging cultural policy through arrogance and incompetence. The…
Testosterone as a Right-Wing Antidote to Wokeness: A Misguided Notion opinion-review
A recent opinion piece in the Süddeutsche Zeitung critiques the rising trend among American conservatives who view testosterone as a cure-all and a counter to 'woke' culture. The…
Dark Horse: Bolsonaro Biopic's Revisionist Script and Questionable Funding opinion-review
The English-language biopic 'Dark Horse,' dramatizing the life of jailed former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, premiered privately in Las Vegas during the Fraud Fighter…
Avery Singer on TikTok, AI, and Polarized Society opinion-review
In an interview with Monopol, artist Avery Singer discusses how TikTok radicalizes people and explores the impact of AI on image-making. Singer uses painting to investigate…
Mega-Galerien nicht in der Krise, kleine Galerien unter Druck: Adam Lindemann widerspricht Pace-CEO opinion-review
In einem Kommentar für Artnet News widerspricht Adam Lindemann der Behauptung, dass die Ära der Mega-Galerien vorbei sei. Anlass hierfür ist die Aussage von Pace-CEO Marc…
Isaac Torres-Quiroz argues architecture is losing its artistic essence opinion-review
In a new analysis published on ArchDaily, Isaac Torres-Quiroz contends that contemporary architecture is undergoing a crisis of artistic identity. The author examines historical…
Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Sparks Heated Cultural Debate opinion-review
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey,' a 250-million-dollar epic shot entirely in IMAX, has faced unprecedented pre-release criticism. The film adapts Homer's classic with a dark,…
Ronaldo Entler Examines the Ethics of Showing Violent Historical Images opinion-review
In a thoughtful piece for ZUM, researcher Ronaldo Entler delves into the ethical challenges surrounding the display of violent historical depictions of enslaved Black individuals.…
Caravaggio Documentary Fails to Capture Collaborative Nature of Artist's Life opinion-review
The 2025 documentary drama "Caravaggio," directed by David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky, perpetuates the myth of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio as a solitary, bellicose figure,…
Pace Gallery downsizing sparks debate on mega-gallery model's future opinion-review
Pace Gallery CEO Marc Glimcher announced on June 3 that the gallery was dropping 50 of its roughly 130 artists and laying off 20 percent of staff, calling the current gallery…
Publishing's Hologram Problem: Readers Prefer Book Summaries Over Books opinion-review
Robert Moor argues that publishing faces a 'holographic crisis' where readers increasingly consume summaries, AI-generated digests, and podcast interviews instead of actual books.…
Gen Z's Sustainability Fatigue: A Post-COVID Reality Check opinion-review
A Gen Z writer argues that sustainability has become performative for their generation, citing post-COVID fatigue, economic precarity, and climate doomism. Fridays for Future…
Stadiums as Today's Most Significant Monumental Architecture opinion-review
In a Dezeen opinion piece, academic Benjamin Flowers argues that stadiums have become the predominant expression of urban monumentality. Unlike churches, museums, or capitol…
Violin Maker Yoshiharu Ito Bridges Renaissance and Japanese Aesthetics opinion-review
Violin maker Yoshiharu Ito, based in Nagoya, Japan, explores the intersection of Renaissance proportion and Japanese aesthetics in his craft. He references the 2007 Joshua Bell…
Videogames' Military Roots and Modern Entanglements opinion-review
Lewis Gordon argues that videogames are returning to their military origins, with modern billionaires, politicians, and companies using the medium for propaganda and warfare. In…
Debating the Ethics of Nude Children in Art opinion-review
An article from DailyArt Magazine examines the ethical complexities of depicting nude children in Western art, spanning from historical paintings to contemporary photography. It…
Summer cinema warns against screen addiction opinion-review
Film critic Leila Latif argues that recent movies and series are urging audiences to disconnect from screens and embrace the outdoors. Works like 'Toy Story 5' mourn childhoods…
Ranking the Greatest Sword-and-Sandal Films from 'Ben-Hur' to 'Caligula' opinion-review
With Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' set to release—a $250 million, 70mm IMAX epic—Monopol magazine revisits the history of sword-and-sandal films. The genre, named for the…
Renate Reschke on Philosophy, Feminism, and Doubt in East Germany opinion-review
In an interview with Der Freitag, philosopher Renate Reschke reflects on her career in East Germany, where she was part of a critical intellectual circle around Wolfgang Heise at…
Iranian filmmaker Nader Saeivar on youth idolizing Trump and Israel opinion-review
In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Iranian filmmaker Nader Saeivar discusses how many young Iranians have come to despise the regime so intensely that they glorify Donald…
Portfolio as an Ongoing Pitch: A Designer's Perspective opinion-review
Preethika Asokan argues that a designer's portfolio functions as a continuous pitch, distinct from a traditional proposal tied to a specific opportunity. While a pitch has a…
Black comedy film 'Our Hero, Balthazar' tackles school shootings and online activism opinion-review
'Our Hero, Balthazar' is a provocative black comedy that tackles themes of school shootings and trauma. Featuring performances by Jaeden Martell and Asa Butterfield, the story…
Nick Cave's Transformation Through Grief and Joy opinion-review
This article delves into how Nick Cave's artistry has evolved following the heartbreaking deaths of his sons, Arthur in 2015 and Jethro in 2022. At a recent concert in Madrid, his…
AfD's Dessau Congress Reveals Anti-Liberal Agenda opinion-review
In Dessau, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party held a congress that exposed its true anti-liberal stance. The event featured calls for historical revisionism and…
Democrats Urged to Unite by Naming VP Candidates Early for 2028 opinion-review
The Democratic Party faces internal divisions despite leading midterm polls. To foster unity, a proposal suggests presidential candidates name their vice-presidential picks from…
Kamel Daoud: Europe must shape Islam's interpretation against radicals opinion-review
Algerian-French writer Kamel Daoud argues that Europe must confidently shape the interpretation of Islam rather than leave it to radicals. He accuses the left of remaining silent…
Why Artists Should Write by Hand: A Columnist's Case opinion-review
A columnist for Monopol magazine argues that handwriting remains an essential craft for artists, citing a Fortune report that US schools are reversing screen-based education due…
Designer argues games reveal how AI 'minds' work opinion-review
An influential designer contends that games, which demonstrate the workings of human cognition, could also provide deeper insight into the 'mind' of large language models (LLMs).…
Craft's Global Resurgence Contrasts with Australia's Fragile Sector opinion-review
During a panel discussion at the National Gallery Singapore, held in conjunction with the 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize exhibition, experts asserted that craft represents a…
Slavoj Žižek on Zohran Mamdani: The True Patriot Who Could Save the American Dream opinion-review
Slavoj Žižek argues that Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, offers a new leftist narrative for America that could rescue the American Dream. Mamdani is attacked by…
Why Hollywood is flooding screens with video game adaptations opinion-review
The film and television landscape is witnessing a surge in video game adaptations, fueled by established fan bases and enhanced narratives. Prime Video's Fallout garnered several…
Why Most Interactive Public Art Lacks Genuine Thrill opinion-review
An insightful opinion article suggests that numerous interactive public art installations lack authentic thrill because they remove elements of risk and personal choice. The…
Nathacha Appanah's 'La notte nel cuore' Reviewed Amid Italian Political Controversy opinion-review
A review of Nathacha Appanah's novel 'La notte nel cuore', translated by Cinzia Poli for Einaudi, intertwines the stories of three women—Chahinez, Emma, and Nathacha—while…
Masters of the Universe: Nostalgia for Analog Play in the 1980s opinion-review
An article on Doppiozero by Denis Lotti and Anita Romanello examines the cultural significance of the Masters of the Universe toy line, which debuted in the early 1980s. As video…
14-Nation Statement on South China Sea Ruling Called Expansionist Overreach opinion-review
On July 12, a group of 14 countries, including the U.S., Philippines, and Australia, commemorated ten years since the 2016 ruling regarding the South China Sea, which favored the…
First Reviews of Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' Are Mostly Positive opinion-review
Major international outlets published the first reviews of Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film 'Odyssey', based on Homer's epic poem, which opens in theaters on July 16.…
America's Civic Crisis: Why Democracy Itself May Foster Loneliness opinion-review
A report from Columbia World Projects addresses America's civic 'supply problem,' resonating with Robert Putnam's concept in 'Bowling Alone.' It observes a reduction in…
AI Summaries Are Not Killing Reading, They Are Part of It opinion-review
Linguist Naomi S. Baron argues that AI may weaken motivation to read for analysis, empathy, escape, and pleasure. However, the article counters that summaries have always been…
Nolan's 'Odyssey' Reviewed as Dark Horror Trip opinion-review
Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey' is described as a dark horror trip through an eerie world, a spectacle that must be seen. The review humorously notes…
Foucault's 'What Is an Author?' Foresees AI and Power Dynamics opinion-review
A New York Times review highlights how Michel Foucault's 1969 essay 'What Is an Author?' anticipated contemporary debates about technology, authorship, and control. Foucault's…

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