Opinion & reviews

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• Madonna's Legacy: How She Shaped Today's Pop Stars opinion-review

  Madonna's influence on pop music and culture is examined in a Vogue article timed to her new album 'Confessions II,' her first in a decade. The article argues that her true legacy…

• Chi Ossé on New York's Joyful 250th Anniversary Amid National Turmoil opinion-review

  In a personal essay for CULTURED, New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé reflects on the city's celebratory mood during America's 250th anniversary, contrasting it with national…

• Lucrecia Martel's 'Nuestra tierra' and the Tension Between Art and Utility opinion-review

  An in-depth critique explores Lucrecia Martel's documentary 'Nuestra tierra' (2026) in relation to her film theories presented in 'Un destino común' (2025). Martel posits that art…

• Flawed Report on Humanities Scholarship Criticized for Process and Framing opinion-review

  A committee of ten professors, convened by the chancellors of Vanderbilt University and Washington University, submitted a report in early April on the state of scholarship in the…

• German doctor criticizes mandatory sick note from day one as medically unsound opinion-review

  Pulmonologist Cihan Çelik, in a guest article for the German weekly 'der Freitag', argues that the government's plan to require a doctor's note from the first day of illness is…

• Elite universities urged to enroll more working-class students opinion-review

  A New York Times opinion piece argues that wealthy universities like Princeton can be pushed to enroll more working- and middle-class students. The article cites data showing that…

• Summer Art Blues: A Satirical Take on the Seasonal Slump opinion-review

  This satirical piece from Collezione da Tiffany humorously laments the summer art world slowdown. The author describes the disorientation of art enthusiasts when galleries close…

• The Hidden Value of Agency Pitches Beyond Winning or Losing opinion-review

  An opinion piece on Creative Gaga explores the often-overlooked internal dynamics of agency pitches. The author argues that the most valuable aspects occur before the verdict:…

• Swiss hiking culture criticized as racist by leftist activists opinion-review

  A controversial debate in Switzerland has emerged as leftist activists claim that hiking is racist and that forests are the habitat of white people. The article, published in the…

• Colombia's new cultural plan revives neoliberal 'Orange Economy' model, alarming artists opinion-review

  A leaked draft of Colombia's incoming government's cultural sector plan for 2026-2030, titled 'Firmes con la Cultura,' signals a return to the 'Orange Economy' model, prioritizing…

• Hélio Menezes Reflects on 61st Venice Biennale's 'In Minor Keys' opinion-review

  Hélio Menezes released an essay for the 61st Venice Biennale, titled 'Imaginar alguma voz que você nunca ouviu' (Imagine a Voice You've Never Heard). In it, he examines Koyo…

• Interpretive Polarization: When Facts Are Agreed But Worlds Diverge opinion-review

  Dan Williams argues that political division is less about factual disagreement than about how agreed-upon facts are interpreted through rival systems of meaning. Drawing on Walter…

• Performance review: United States of America opinion-review

  DesignObserver published a literary performance review of the United States as a democratic entity, structured like workplace feedback. The review identifies three recurring…

• Should Artists Bake Sales Tax into Art Fair Prices? opinion-review

  A pricing guide for artists selling at outdoor art fairs and open studio tours advises against rolling sales tax into the sticker price, arguing it inflates the perceived cost and…

• US 250th Birthday Amid Crisis: Can the Left Reinvent America? opinion-review

  The United States celebrates its 250th birthday on Saturday amid wars, deportations, and inflation, with public morale low. The article questions whether the American left can…

• Climate Crisis as Social Disaster: A Commentary on Heat and Inequality opinion-review

  In a commentary for Der Freitag, author Kathrin Hartmann argues that the climate crisis is a social disaster, highlighting the disparity between the wealthy and the vulnerable.…

• Annie Leibovitz Faces Backlash Over Sepia Filter in Mexico Soccer Photos opinion-review

  Annie Leibovitz is facing criticism on Instagram for using a sepia-toned filter on a photo of Mexican soccer players Raul Jimenez, Johan Vasquez, and Julian Quinones, part of her…

• Mediocrity as a new ideal for men in dating and football opinion-review

  A column in Süddeutsche Zeitung argues that mediocrity is becoming the new standard for men, both in dating and football. The author, Teresa Präauer, observes that the pressure to…

• Merz's Paraguay Post: Worse Than the National Team opinion-review

  Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor, posted on X after Germany's World Cup loss to Paraguay, praising the team's weak performance. His team called it a coordination error, but…

• Houston Seventh Grader Reviews Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Room opinion-review

  Henry Alberto Suescun Panza, a seventh grader from Tanglewood Middle School in Houston ISD, has penned a review of Yayoi Kusama's piece 'Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity' at…

• Slow Selling: Why Patience Pays Off for Artists opinion-review

  Carolyn Edlund argues that successful art sales often require a long-term approach rather than immediate results. Artists who judge success solely by instant sales at fairs or…

• Russian Life Under Drone Attacks: A Cultural Commentary opinion-review

  Irina Rastorgueva's essay in Süddeutsche Zeitung examines the psychological and material impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian civilians. As attacks penetrate deeper into…

• Abstract Humour and the Joke-Work in Contemporary Art opinion-review

  This critical essay examines the role of humour in modern art through a Deleuzian perspective, differentiating it from irony. It describes a seminar incident where a student…

• Hamlet's Chaos Resonates in Contemporary Theatre opinion-review

  The 16th-century Shakespearean character Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, continues to inspire contemporary directors because he embodies the choice of chaos over building a better…

• Jonathan Harris on Art History's Global Challenges opinion-review

  In an interview, art historian Jonathan Harris argues that art history remains a Euro-US-centric discipline rooted in nationalism and imperialism, inadequate for analyzing…

• Isaac Asimov's 1980 Essay 'A Cult of Ignorance' Resurfaces opinion-review

  In 1980, Isaac Asimov published an essay in Newsweek titled 'A Cult of Ignorance,' arguing that anti-intellectualism has long been embedded in American political and cultural…

• Pedro Cabeleira's 'Entroncamento' Noir Illuminates Lisbon Suburb opinion-review

  Pedro Cabeleira's film 'Entroncamento' is a Portuguese noir set in the bleak suburb of Entroncamento, near Lisbon, where the director grew up. The film, elevated by its night-time…

• Ciencia ficción como filosofía social: de Asimov a Gual y Pérez Caballero opinion-review

  El autor reflexiona sobre la ciencia ficción como herramienta de crítica social, desde lecturas infantiles de Lucky Starr y Asimov hasta obras recientes. Destaca dos novelas…

• Olga Tokarczuk: Poland's Nobel Laureate and Political Lightning Rod opinion-review

  Olga Tokarczuk, Poland's Nobel Prize-winning author, remains a deeply polarizing figure in her homeland. The article, published in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, explores how…

• Portuguese Thriller 'Entroncamento' Reviewed by Le Monde opinion-review

  Le Monde's weekly cinema column highlights a remarkable thriller from Portugal among new releases. The film 'Entroncamento' is noted as a standout in the July 1, 2026 edition of…

• America's Classical Music at 250: A Critical Assessment opinion-review

  In a New York Times essay, critic Joseph Horowitz assesses classical music in the United States at 250 years, arguing that the country has failed to develop a distinct concert…

• Harry Gruyaert: The History of Color Photography opinion-review

  Carola Allemandi and Anita Romanello trace the evolution of color photography, challenging the notion that it is a late development. They note that color was achieved in the late…

• Edoardo Bennato's 'L'isola che non c'è' as a Metaphor for Happiness opinion-review

  In a reflective piece on Artspecialday, Nicolò Peroncini explores Edoardo Bennato's 1980 album 'Sono solo canzonette' and its central song 'L'isola che non c'è' (The Island That…

• Hong Kong migrants miss air conditioning in UK heatwave opinion-review

  A South China Morning Post opinion piece explores the experience of BN(O) migrants from Hong Kong adjusting to life in the UK, particularly missing air conditioning during a…

• Trans Lives Should Matter While We’re Still Here opinion-review

  The article is a first-person essay by a trans writer reflecting on the ongoing epidemic of violence against trans women, particularly Black trans women, in the United States. The…

• Josh Kline's viral essay and Remuseum's Vanguard Award challenge art world centralization opinion-review

  In his essay titled 'New York Real Estate and the Ruin of American Art,' released in October, Josh Kline contends that escalating property prices in New York and Los Angeles are…

• World Cup forces North American cities to test public transit limits opinion-review

  Scholar Deb Chachra argues that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has exposed the strengths and weaknesses of public transportation across North America. FIFA initially required free…

• The Neuroscience of Creative Hangover: Why the Brain Feels Empty After a Project opinion-review

  The article explores the phenomenon of 'creative hangover,' the feeling of emptiness and difficulty concentrating after completing a major creative project. It explains that…

• The Graying of the World: A Color Psychology Analysis opinion-review

  A Süddeutsche Zeitung feature examines the pervasive trend of gray in contemporary life, from cars and clothing to furniture and architecture. The article cites a scene from the…

• Germany's Two-Tier Cultural Funding: Who Still Pays for Independent Art? opinion-review

  Berlin's 2026/27 budget cuts cultural spending by €150 million, pushing it below 2% of the city's budget for the first time in years. While the federal government slightly…